Health information management in the home: a human factors assessment

Achieving optimal health outcomes requires that consumers maintain myriad health data and understand how to utilize appropriate health information management applications. This case study investigated four families' health information management tasks in their homes.

Four different families participated in the study: a single parent household; two nuclear family households; and an extended family household.

A work system model known as the balance model was used as a guiding framework for data collection. Data collection consisted of three stages: (1) primary health information manager interviews; (2) family interviews; and (3) task observations.

Overall, families reported 69 unique health information management tasks that took place in nine different locations, using 22 different information storage artifacts. Frequently occurring tasks related to health management or health coordination were conducted in public spaces. Less frequent or more time-consuming tasks, such as researching a health concern or storing medical history, were performed in private spaces such as bedrooms or studies.

Similarities across households suggest potential foundational design elements that consumer health information technology application designers need to balance with tailored interventions to successfully support variations in individuals' health information management needs.