News > Accessibility and usability

The literature and evidence on digital health services, benefits and outcomes and how consumers use the Internet for information is being developed rapidly (approximately half the 200 papers the University of Plymouth have in their database are from 2008 or later) and it will become increasingly difficult to keep up to date. International collaboration seems obligatory.

For example, in response to President Obama's call for increased transparency, public participation and collaboration in federal decision making, the US National Institutes of Health, the US Medical Research Agency,  has published a call for information on:

• Health information-seeking behaviours and trends
• Consumers' health information interests
• How the public accesses and uses health information
• Barriers that might hinder NIH's ability to communicate with health consumers

www.ihealthbeat.org/Articles/2009/9/25/NIH-Seeks-Ways-To-Better-Communicate-With-Consumers.aspx