Training Future Health and Information Technologies Professionals on the European Health Data Space

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Informatics
• Health Policy and Governance

Background:

• The European Health Data Space (EHDS) is a key initiative for digital health transformation in the EU, enabling secure health data sharing.
• EHDS is underrepresented in current medical and informatics academic curricula, creating a knowledge gap among future professionals.
• A digitally competent workforce is essential for the successful implementation of EHDS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a structured educational intervention on awareness, understanding, and preparedness regarding EHDS.
• To assess the effectiveness of training on primary and secondary health data uses, legal frameworks, and technical infrastructure within EHDS.
• To inform the integration of EHDS education into higher education curricula.

Main Methods:

• A structured educational intervention was implemented at the University of Oulu.
• The intervention involved training sessions, practical examples, and interactive discussions on EHDS.
• Student understanding and preparedness were evaluated through surveys.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in students' conceptual understanding of EHDS were observed.
• Students demonstrated enhanced ability to differentiate between primary and secondary uses of health data.
• Students with European backgrounds reported slightly higher familiarity with EHDS rights and frameworks.

Conclusions:

• Educational interventions are effective in enhancing knowledge and preparedness for EHDS among future health and IT professionals.
• Embedding EHDS education into academic programs is vital for developing a skilled workforce to support its implementation.
• This intervention provides valuable learning materials for integrating digital health policy into higher education.