Related Experiment Videos
What is eHealth (4): a scoping exercise to map the field.
Claudia Pagliari1, David Sloan, Peter Gregor
1Division of Clinical and Community Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, 20 West Richmond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DZ, United Kingdom. claudia.pagliari@ed.ac.uk
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|April 15, 2005
Summary
eHealth emerged in 2000 and has become prevalent, yet lacks a clear definition. This study maps its scope and place within health informatics, finding varied applications and a focus on networked digital technologies.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Digital Health
- Medical Informatics
Background:
- The term eHealth lacks a universally agreed-upon definition, causing confusion among stakeholders.
- Its rising international profile prompted a review of its emergence and scope.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the emergence and scope of eHealth.
- To identify eHealth's position within the broader health informatics field.
- To analyze current evidence, best practices, and future trends in eHealth.
Main Methods:
- Searched multiple scientific databases (Medline, CINAHL, SCI, SSCI, Cochrane, ISTP) using "Ehealth OR e-health OR e*health" (1997-2003).
- Conducted supplementary web-based searches for reports and policy documents.
- Thematically analyzed extracted definitions to assess conceptual heterogeneity.
Main Results:
- eHealth emerged in 2000 and is now prevalent, but not explicitly in MeSH taxonomy.
- 387 articles across 154 journals were identified, primarily in information technology and telemedicine.
- Definitions vary, but most emphasize networked digital technologies and communicative functions, distinguishing eHealth from medical informatics.
Conclusions:
- The field of eHealth is characterized by diverse definitions and applications.
- Global definitions by Eysenbach and Eng may characterize the current state of eHealth.