The use of computer telephony to provide interactive health information

The use of information technology to provide health information to the public has grown at a rapid pace. Numerous sources of health care information within both the print and Internet media are now available. Yet, their availability raises concerns about the quality of the information provided and questions about which is the most effective method for transmitting health information to consumers. We present an interactive method of presenting high-quality health information that uses a new approach: an integration of the telephone and the computer also called computer telephony. Telephone-Linked Communication for Health Information (TLC-HI) is a computer-based telecommunications system that functions as an educator to people in search of answers to health-related issues. To create TLC-HI, we converted validated print-based consumer information into computer-controlled conversational dialogues. We discuss the potential that the TLC-HI approach holds for improving the way health information is communicated.