| Interactive Health
Communication (IHC)
Interactive health communication is the interaction of an individual
– a consumer, patient, caregiver, or professional - with an electronic
device or communication technology to access or transmit health information
or to receive guidance on a health-related issue.
Although most IHC applications employ computers, they may also involve
telephones, interactive televisions, personal digital assistants, and
other communication devices.
IHC applications can:
- Promote healthy behaviors
- Relay information
- Enable informed decisionmaking
- Promote information exchange and emotional support
- Encourage self-care, and
- Manage demand for health services
Source: Science Panel on Interactive Communication and
Health. Wired for Health
and Well-Being: the Emergence of Interactive
Health Communication. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human
Services, US Government Printing Office, April 1999. |
