Using Videotex in public health in Belgium

In public health, access to information is more and more felt to be an urgent need. In this matter Videotex has shown to be a good working tool, though its utilisation in Belgium is not widespread yet. The Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology has implemented EPITEL, a databank allowing for consultation of data on health and environment. The rationale for the choice of Videotex as a consulting tool is analysed here. Though very user-friendly, its high technicality allows for certain applications to function in real time mode, generate graphics, or even to consult an expert system, as the one used in the application on immunisations. In this way Videotex can also be a helpful tool in primary prevention, besides its data consulting function. This demonstration will present the five applications: health and travelling, health indicators, allergenic pollen, biological quality of the swimming waters at the coast, air pollution data. It shortly presents the hardware and software supporting the system, as well as a few results of a two-year experience running the system. Some shortcomings of the actual system may be highlighted, and possible evolutions might be discussed.