Health Communication and Information Technology - An Overview

Introduction

Health communication and information technology primarily focuson the growth of digital technologies, databases, and applications that aim to control disease, treat infections, and supervise chronic disease while enhancing healthcare for individuals and communities, power system efficiencies, and prevent medical mistakes. Health information communication technology incorporates efficient access, sharing, functioning, and storing of data. Failure to communicate effectively between doctors and nurses is one of the most common reasons for hostile and unfavorable patient experiencesin the hospital. Communication technology such as the electronic health record, automated provider order entry, e-mail, and pagers, which are a segment of health information technology, can assist in reducing some of the shortfalls in communication.

What Is the Meaning of Health Communication and Information Technology?

• Health Communication: The analysis and usage of communication methods to notify and influence personal and community decisions that improve health. Health communication evaluates channels to provide targeted notifications and characteristic features among audiences, including people, residents, health specialists, particular groups, and judgment-makers.

• Health Information Technology: It includes digital devices and assistance (mobile phone applications, e-mails, text messages) that can improve patients’ self-care, promote patient-doctor communication, report health conducts and judgments, control health complications, and advance health equity.

What Are the Ways to Enhance Communication in Healthcare?

• Access the Existing Method of Communication: Before an individual makes advancements in internal communication, they must evaluate the existing measures. For example, an individual in the healthcare sector already understands the significance of avoiding expensive and potentially lethal blunders. Once an individual evaluates the touch, it is time to request feedback and make communication approaches. A remarkable example of good contact is permitting the staff to have a voice, hear their input, and assemble suitable modifications. Individuals and enterprises desiring to enhance communication must be ready to listen.

• Simplify Communication Media: An individual working in the healthcare sector is required to follow specific protocols. Existing forms of communication need to be reviewed and more straightforward communication channels need to be implemented. Communication should be accessible; however, they also evolve fast and are complex and challenging. As long as an individual confirms that communication stays personal and safe, they can eradicate some extreme measures, which usually provoke chaos or are time-taking to guide. Communication can be carried out in a single, straightforward, mobile-familiar interface that does not include e-mail.

• Motivate Mobile Cooperation for Meaningful Communication Between Healthcare Specialists: Nowadays, pagers remain a compulsory mode of communication in numerous healthcare establishments. At the same time, pagers may be an effective method to alert the individual to answer the call as soon as possible.

• Provide Healthcare Workers a Chance to Express Their Thoughts: Providing every worker a voice and appreciation for their input will improve team communication. Also, everyone must have an equal chance to communicate their problems, requirements, and desires. Feeling that their opinions and concerns are ignored or valued can break communication.

• Prioritize Direct Communication: As individuals increasingly utilize technology, direct communication remains just as vital. In-person discussions are critical to designating functional communication between healthcare experts. Compulsory meetings are usually filled with anything but confidence, particularly when an individual has an overworked team. At the same time, an individual may not have the authority to stop compulsory face-to-face discussions or attempt to create the “in-person” time an individual has with their team. Paying attention and being an enthusiastic listener will convince the group that they matter enough for the management to be present, their actions are appreciated, and the administration wants to learn more about their experiences on the job.

What Are the Benefits of Information Technology and Communication in Healthcare?

Information technology and communication have changed healthcare in many developing nations by spreading public health knowledge and facilitating consultation such as:

• Advance patient-oriented healthcare at a lower price.

• Enhance the quality of care and knowledge communication among health employees.

• Educate health specialists and patients – expertise, and activity.

• Promote a unique state of connection between patients and health providers.

• Decrease travel duration because of telemedicine (allows video or phone meetings between a patient and their health care provider), and receives remote consultation, detection, and medicine from experts in distant hospitals.

• Monitor public health hazards.

What Are the Challenges of Information Technology and Communication in Healthcare?

Despite the benefits of health communication and information technology, there are also several challenges. One of the main challenges is the digital divide, which refers to the gap between those who have access to technology and those who do not. This divide can prevent some people from accessing healthcare services, health education, and public health information.

Another challenge is the issue of privacy and security. Electronic health records and other digital tools contain sensitive information that needs to be protected from unauthorized access. Cybersecurity threats, such as hacking and data breaches, are a significant concern in healthcare, and healthcare providers must take steps to ensure that patient information is secure.

What Are the Health Effects of Information and Communication Technology?

There are some familiar consequences to users of information communication technologies, which are as follows:

• Increased eye strain due to constantly looking at the monitor, even if it is at a consistent distance. The muscle that focuses the eye does not move and becomes exhausted and achy. Headaches can be induced by eye pressure. The use of an anti-glare screen can help reduce eye strain.

• Back and neck pain caused by incorrect posture from sitting at the computer monitor for an extended duration. To control this, the individual should ensure that the computer keyboard and monitor are at an appropriate height, utilize an adjustable chair, take frequent breaks, and walk.

• Repetitive action can cause strain injury to wrists and hands. This occurs when the individual repeats the movement for an extended period, for example, while typing and operating a computer mouse. To control this, the individual should use a wrist rest for help and take frequent breaks.

Conclusion

Direct communication with technology-mediated communication will deliver an understanding of how clinical implications are arranged for mutual agreement and understanding of movement. Understanding the various modes of communication will help understand what kinds of data get transmitted, how and when they are shared, and what the resultant actions are because of these interactions. This analysis will also help us understand and analyze how miscommunication can occur. It will also help develop probable methods to enhance communication so that patient care is not adversely impacted. These communication and information technologies in healthcare platforms must understand the communication methods and capitalize on those procedures that function and require modification.