Empowering the patient with ICT-tools: the unfulfilled promise

For the patient, ICT is a resource that helps the individual to cope with illness. On the basis of in depth interviews with diabetic patients, their desired coping strategies that relate to communication and information were identified. The strategies fall into the following categories: Contact with fellow-patients, Care (choice of care, control of care and control of information) and social environment. Patient empowerment by ICT means that ICT enables the patient to cope with illness. A number of ICT-tools currently available for patients were analyzed on the aspect of patient empowerment. Findings are that most tools provide little support for patients' coping behaviour in choice (of treatment and caregiver), control of care and control of information (by the patient). This lack of effective instrumental support for a patient's coping and empowerment is not explained by technical restraints, but by the dominance on the supply side in healthcare. To meet the neglected needs of patients, caregivers would have to adapt the organisation of their work. Examples of success in applying ICT/Telemedicine are given. The structural impediments for patient empowerment must be further clarified and removed or minimised.