News > Using electronic media

Various search engines can play an important role in obtaining medical information for both medical professionals and lay people. However, the usability and effectiveness of various search engines for medical information have not been comprehensively compared and evaluated. Researchers applied usability testing to compare the four major search engines (Google, Yahoo!, Bing, and Ask.com) in obtaining health and medical information. They searched the keyword breast cancer and compared the results of the top 200 links from each search engine. In terms of user satisfaction analysis, volunteer users scored Bing the highest for its usefulness, followed by Yahoo!, Google, and Ask.com.

A new interactive online initiative is teaching web surfers to 'choose well' when it comes to medical help and advice. Visitors to the Welsh Ambulance Service and NHS Direct Wales websites can now take part in an interactive quiz based on the national Choose Well campaign structure. Evidence reveals that a significant number of people dial 999 for an ambulance or go to A&E departments despite there being other more suitable services available to help their needs. Choose Well centres on a colour coded thermometer to assist people in linking their symptoms or injury to the right service, which is right for their need.

BCS Health Scotland are pleased to announce the NHS Scotland eHealth Awards 2012 are now open for nominations. The 2012 eHealth Awards provide and opportunity to show your colleagues and peers what work has been going on in your board. Winners receive prizes, but more importantly recognition among your profession for your achievements. The award categories for 2012 include Best NHS Scotland use of innovative IT for patient care - the award will go to the most innovative product in use within a clinical setting for direct patient care.

Patient records access portal, Patients Know Best, is being used in a US trial looking at whether giving patients access to their records saves on healthcare costs. Dr Mohammad Al-Ubaydli, founder of the patient-controlled records system Patients Know Best, spoke at the PiF conference this week. Patients KnowBest gives patients a personal electronic health record account and they can grant clinicians access to that account. They can be given online access to records and can use the system to consult with clinicians online. The portal has been selected for a trial involving teaching hospitals in the US to investigate how giving patients access to their own records can impact their use of healthcare. The trial will involve a few hundred gastroenterology patients. The costs of their healthcare will be regularly audited and reported.

Have you been able to exploit the explosive growth of social media to engage the general public? Then enter the Best use of social media in healthcare category at this year's EHI Awards, in association with BT. Media such as Twitter and Facebook can be useful tools to seek out hard-to-reach groups or deliver information to support specific campaigns. But there are many other forms of social media and their functions include listening as well as giving out messages. EHI want to hear about the best examples of social media use in this category. Last years winner was for Interactive health services by digital TV and mobile phone at NHS Sefton, and David Hammond from their team is coming to speak at the PiF conference next week. The deadline for entries is 1 June 2012.

The objective of this research was to determine whether mobile phone based monitoring improves asthma control compared with standard paper based monitoring strategies. Participants were centrally randomised to twice daily recording and mobile phone based transmission of symptoms, drug use, and peak flow with immediate feedback prompting action according to an agreed plan or paper based monitoring. There was no significant difference in the change in asthma control or self efficacy between the two groups. The numbers of patients who had acute exacerbations, steroid courses, and unscheduled consultations were similar in both groups, with similar healthcare costs. Overall, the mobile phone service was more expensive.

Entries for the EHI Awards 2012 in association with BT are now open and free to enter. The EHI Awards are the only awards that specifically highlight the achievements of those working in the UK healthcare IT sector. PiF members may be interested in applying for the 'Best use of social media in healthcare' award. The award is for outstanding, innovative work that exploits the chosen medium well and has been evaluated and shown to deliver proven benefits. (One of the speakers at the PiF conference this year, David Hammond, was winner of this award last year)

NHS Kidney Care has launched a new report highlighting the benefits that people with a long term condition can gain from monitoring and managing their condition online. The report presents the findings of a comprehensive evaluation NHS Kidney Care carried out around the usage of Renal PatientView (RPV), a secure internet-based system that enables people with kidney disease to view their test results online, and to input some self-collected data such as weight and blood pressure readings. The evaluation shows that patients and health professionals believe that using RPV makes patients feel more in control of their medical care, and gives them a better understanding of their kidney disease. Professionals observed that patients who use RPV are more informed about their kidney disease, and are much more involved in decisions about their treatment.

As internet chemotherapy information (ICI) is increasingly viewed as a valuable patient education tool, the researchers investigated the impact of ICI on patient care and analysed health professionals' (HPs') attitudes towards ICI. Just over half of the patient respondents accessed the internet regularly. They were younger, with higher incomes and qualifications. Key search topics included chemotherapy modes of action, symptom management and treatment success, and most considered ICI useful. More than half wanted to discuss ICI with HPs but most did not get the opportunity. Although the majority of HP respondents supported the need for patients to retrieve ICI, most questioned the accuracy of ICI and did not routinely recommend its use.

From influencing behaviour and raising awareness to recruiting activists, donors, volunteers and fundraisers - there's no doubt that social media has radically transformed the ways in which charities make connections and develop meaningful relationships. The question today is not whether we should be engaging with our audiences through social media, but how we should be maximising its potential. With a mixture of practical breakouts and thought-provoking plenary sessions this one day CharityComms conference will bring together some of the best brains in the charity world to explore the latest trends, case studies and innovations. The conference takes place on 21 March 2012 in London.