On Wed, 21 Jan 1998, Madeline Boscoe wrote:

> what kind of recommendations or ideas that those of us in health promotion
> and community development would like to see. at present much of the
> discussion in my province has been focussed on medical records, "smart
> cards" and privacy. there is little visioning about other types of health
> information or the priorities and needs of the public.
>
> I am suggesting to the organizers that they need to be sure everyone is,
> for example, using the same definition of health information and a health
> information structure. I am seeking any suggestions of where to find a good
> one that has been used or recommended. I expect someone on this list has
>
> Too often the discussions I have heard seem to focuss on centralized health
> information systems ie national 1 800 numbers or websites but little on the
> possible roles of local networks, libraries, freenets, community health
> centres etc.
>



I find Madeline's call to discussion ecxiting.  I currently am completing
research on the fit of information technology to meet the needs of
patients/clients, caregivers, staff and organizations in the delivery of
community health care.  This is the grass roots, the front line.  There
exists the opportunity to allow people as much control and responsibility
over their own health as they are willing to accept.

Defining HEALTH INFORMATION
AND THE NATURE OF A HEALTH INFORMATION STRUCTURE IS indeed challenging.

Can health information incompase all the determinants that foster good
health and correspondingly leads to increased quality of life?  Promotion,
prevention, cure and care would become somewhat balanced in such a
definition.

What needs would such a health information structure serve?
Organizational, and professional needs , or the needs of those
experiencing illness.
         Worthley, et al, 1995 states that 85% of
respondents in a survey feel they do not recieve the factual information
they are looking for to make health related decisons and 82% want it.

I look foreward to further discussion on these important goals.

        Jayne Cardno, Graduate Student
        Rural Extension Studies, University of Guelph.