Informing Clients through Information Communication Technology in Health Care Systems

摘要

Information Communication Technology (ICT) has revolutionized the world communication order. People can be informed in more effective, efficient and convenient ways. Access to media has percolated to the grassroots. In spite of all such remarkable developments, whether ICT facilitates Science communication is a billion dollar question. Though information is freely and widely available by virtue of ICT, yet, there are areas where Science communication through ICT still needs to be developed to deliver critical information to the needy.rnObjectives: The objectives of the study are to find out: whether patients and care givers have perception of their information needs? What sources of information they usually consult?rnWhat type of channels/media they possess to access the information? What sources the patients and care givers prefer to consult? Whether in the opinion of the patients and their care givers, the ICTs are effective in delivering the critical information.rnMethodology: An exploratory survey was conducted. A semi-structured interview was employed to collect data from a group of 188 patients and care givers in the hospitals and clinics in Hyderabad (India).rnResults and conclusion: The study determined the patients' and care givers' preferences for technologies in keeping informed. It also brought to light the limitations and usefulness of ICTs in Science communication in general and medical information in particular.