This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on ISI (97)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Topic Collections  • Evidence-Based Medicine  • Informatics/ Internet in Medicine  • Internet  • Alert me on articles by topic

A Challenge to Medicine in the Information Age

Thomas N. Robinson, MD, MPH; Kevin Patrick, MD, MS; Thomas R. Eng, VMD, MPH; David Gustafson, PhD; for the Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health

JAMA. 1998;280:1264-1269.

Objective.— To examine the current status of interactive health communication (IHC) and propose evidence-based approaches to improve the quality of such applications.

Participants.— The Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health, a 14-member, nonfederal panel with expertise in clinical medicine and nursing, public health, media and instructional design, health systems engineering, decision sciences, computer and communication technologies, and health communication, convened by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, US Department of Health and Human Services.

Evidence.— Published studies, online resources, expert panel opinions, and opinions from outside experts in fields related to IHC.

Consensus Process.— The panel met 9 times during more than 2 years. Government agencies and private-sector experts provided review and feedback on the panel's work.

Conclusions.— Interactive health communication applications have great potential to improve health, but they may also cause harm. To date, few applications have been adequately evaluated. Physicians and other health professionals should promote and participate in an evidence-based approach to the development and diffusion of IHC applications and endorse efforts to rigorously evaluate the safety, quality, and utility of these resources. A standardized reporting template is proposed to help developers and evaluators of IHC applications conduct evaluations and disclose their results and to help clinicians, purchasers, and consumers judge the quality of IHC applications.

From Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif (Dr Robinson); Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego (Dr Patrick); Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC (Dr Eng); and University of Wisconsin, Madison (Dr Gustafson).

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Prevention programs for body image and eating disorders on University campuses: a review of large, controlled interventions
Yager and O'Dea
HEALTH PROMOT INT 2008;0:dan004v1-17.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Roles of Patients' Internet Use for Cancer Information and Socioeconomic Status in Oncologist-Patient Communication
Welch Cline et al.
J Oncol Pract 2007;3:167-171.
FULL TEXT  

Evaluation of an Online Platform for Cancer Patient Self-reporting of Chemotherapy Toxicities
Basch et al.
J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc. 2007;14:264-268.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Developing Internet-Based eHealth Promotion Programs: The Spiral Technology Action Research (STAR) Model
Skinner et al.
Health Promot Pract 2006;7:406-417.
ABSTRACT  

Uncertainty, responsibility, and the evolution of the physician/patient relationship.
Henry
J. Med. Ethics 2006;32:321-323.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Redesigning a Telehealth Diabetes Management Program for a Digital Divide Seniors Population
Kaufman et al.
Home Health Care Management Practice 2006;18:223-234.
ABSTRACT  

A randomised control study of a fully automated internet based smoking cessation programme
Swartz et al.
Tobacco Control 2006;15:7-12.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Trust and Sources of Health Information: The Impact of the Internet and Its Implications for Health Care Providers: Findings From the First Health Information National Trends Survey
Hesse et al.
Arch Intern Med 2005;165:2618-2624.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

A Systematic Review of Practice Standards and Research Ethics in Technology-Based Home Health Care Intervention Programs for Older Adults
Marziali et al.
J Aging Health 2005;17:679-696.
ABSTRACT  

Patient Online Self-Reporting of Toxicity Symptoms During Chemotherapy
Basch et al.
JCO 2005;23:3552-3561.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Promoting Health Literacy
McCray
J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc. 2005;12:152-163.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Use of e-Health Services between 1999 and 2002: A Growing Digital Divide
Hsu et al.
J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc. 2005;12:164-171.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Public Health Informatics: The Nature of the Field and Its Relevance to Health Promotion Practice
Kukafka
Health Promot Pract 2005;6:23-28.
ABSTRACT  

Working group 6: The role of technology to enhance clinical and educational efficiency
Nissen et al.
J Am Coll Cardiol 2004;44:256-260.
FULL TEXT  

Shortcomings of health information on the Internet
Benigeri and Pluye
HEALTH PROMOT INT 2003;18:381-386.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Is There a Digital Divide among Physicians? A Geographic Analysis of Information Technology in Southern California Physician Offices
Bell et al.
J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc. 2003;10:484-493.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Analysis of Internet-Based Health Assessments
Bensley and Lewis
Health Promot Pract 2002;3:463-476.
ABSTRACT  

Integrating Medical Informatics and Health Services Research: The Need for Dual Training at the Clinical Health Systems and Policy Levels
Mandl and Lee
J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc. 2002;9:127-132.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Feasibility of Using Internet Support for the Maintenance of Weight Loss
Harvey-Berino et al.
Behav Modif 2002;26:103-116.
ABSTRACT  

Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of the art
Cline and Haynes
Health Educ Res 2001;16:671-692.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Enhancing learning through use of interactive tools on health-related websites
Stout et al.
Health Educ Res 2001;16:721-733.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Diabetes Network Internet-Based Physical Activity Intervention: A randomized pilot study
McKay et al.
Diabetes Care 2001;24:1328-1334.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Consumer Informatics Supporting Patients as Co-Producers of Quality
Kaplan and Brennan
J. Am. Med. Inform. Assoc. 2001;8:309-316.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Making a Difference With Interactive Technology: Considerations in Using and Evaluating Computerized Aids for Diabetes Self-Management Education
Glasgow and Bull
Diabetes Spectr. 2001;14:99-106.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Electronic communication in ethics committees: experience and challenges
Eiser et al.
J. Med. Ethics 2001;27:i30-32.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Internet Access and Use Among Disadvantaged Inner-City Patients
Robinson et al.
JAMA 1999;281:988-989.
FULL TEXT  

Published criteria for evaluating health related web sites: review
Kim et al.
BMJ 1999;318:647-649.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Interactive Multimedia and Risk Communication
Strecher et al.
J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 1999;1999:134-139.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Is There a Use for Tailored Print Communications in Cancer Risk Communication?
Rimer and Glassman
J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 1999;1999:140-148.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Challenges to Improving Health Risk Communication in the 21st Century: a Discussion
Fong et al.
J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 1999;1999:173-176.
FULL TEXT  

Access to Health Information and Support: A Public Highway or a Private Road?
Eng et al.
JAMA 1998;280:1371-1375.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT