Current challenges of personal health information management
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/13287260910983614 |
| Published date | 14 August 2009 |
| Date | 14 August 2009 |
| Pages | 230-243 |
| Author | Janne Lahtiranta |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
JSIT
11,3
230
Journal of Systems and Information
Technology
Vol. 11 No. 3, 2009
pp. 230-243
#Emerald Group Publishing Limited
1328-7265
DOI 10.1108/13287260910983614
Current challenges of personal
health information management
Janne Lahtiranta
Department of Information Technology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Abstract
Purpose – Health care has come to a turning point. Particularly due to aging societies and economic
pressure placed on health care system, health is rapidly becoming one’s own responsibility. This
fundamental paradigm shift does not only affect the way health care services that will be provided in
the near future but it also places enormous heal th information management demands on the
laypeople. The purpose of this paper is to look into this emerging phenomenon, its current challenges
and available solutions.
Design/methodology/approach – In order to identify different kinds of solutions used for personal
health information management (PHIM) and related challenges, a bibliographical review is conducted
using five online databases. The review focuses on articles that emphasize personal natu re of the
health information management. The bibliographical review is also extended to some of the articles
cited in the original review. To support discoveries from the bibliographical review, the results are
compared to free electronic personal health records of different types.
Findings – The paper identifies some of the most current challenges in the field of PHIM and
provides an outline for overcoming them. Proposed guidelines include a concept of citizen pathways
(CPs) that can be used for complementing the currently available solutions from a citizen-centric
perspective.
Research limitations/implications – The paper points out near-future development directions for
the PHIM solutions in the form of identified and relevant challenges and characterized CPs. However,
the forward-looking conclusions are based on a bibliographical review and analysis of existing
systems, and therefore their functionality and applicability are not tested in practice.
Originality/value – The findings of this paper can be used in shaping PHIM solutions of the near
future. The described challenges can also be used to identify potential problems of the internet and
new media on a larger scale in the context of health and medical informatics.
Keywords Health services, Records management, Information systems, Internet, Personal health
Paper type Conceptual pap er
Introduction
The field of health care is changing rapidly. Partly due to exigencies of (public) health
care services and partly due to vociferous demands of the empowered individuals the
responsibilities related to one’s personal health care are shifting from health care
professionals to individuals themselves. In order to make savings in the (public)
health care, and in order to streamline the overall health care business, individuals
are demanded to take more control over their own health and in some cases over the
health of their relatives. At the same time individuals have become more
knowledgeable about their personal health and health care in general, and they yearn
to know more.
What individuals perceive as health care has changed as well. Nowadays health
care is considered more than just a visit to a doctor. Different well-being and even
fitness services have broadened the scope of health care and brought different service
providers into the field. Amongst others, physiotherapists, nutrition specialists and
personal health trainer s have found their way into the everyday life of an individual
who wants to stay fit and in good health. Health care is not just about health anymore,
it has become an issue of a comprehensive well-being covering mental, physical and
social dimensions. Some individuals have even gone so far in their quest for the perfect
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