Stimulating convergence of clinical and lifestyle perspectives on the web: asthma as an example

• Main Authors: Jean Roberts, Karen Copeland
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT 2002-11-01
• Series: Journal of Innovation in Health Informatics
• Subjects: informatics convergence; lifestyle; quality; web
• Online Access: http://hijournal.bcs.org/index.php/jhi/article/view/268

The paper explores the quality issues and principles of presenting information, for both professional and lay audiences, in an area where there is also potential synergy in increased knowledge exchange between health and lifestyle professions whose current inter-working is very limited. It requires an investment in dialogue, joint research and an understanding of the indicators of quality that relate to 'fitness for purpose' in this situation. Using the example scenario, information relating to exercise and asthma, the paper concludes that decisions on what interventions are best for a specific individual based on cross-validated web-based information could then be made in a more informed way and bring about enhanced patient outcomes. This timely convergence is consistent with the strategic direction of European and NHS plans.