Patient empowerment – fra RSI pejlemærke til handling
Patient empowerment – from RSI milestone to action
Lena Y. Pedersena, b, RN, Henrik Mossinga, c, RN, Anette Mundbjerga, d, RN
aInstitut for sundhedsvidenskab og teknologi, Aalborg Universitet, Aalborg, Danmark
b Region Nordjylland
cRegion Syddanmark, Sygehus Lillebælt, Middelfart
dRegion Midt, Hospitalsenheden Horsens


Problem:
The number of elderly and chronic patients are increasing and hence the pressure on the Danish healthcare system. New and faster diagnostic techniques are gaining ground. The time the patient is hospalitized will be shortened, patients are discharged from hospital earlier which increase the need for close intersectoral collaboration. RSI wants larger focus on patient empowerment and has published a strategy for IT support of this.

Background:
“Kronikerenheden Nordjylland” has worked on the development of a digital health record for patients with chronic diseases. Seminars with inter-sectoral participation of clinicians, patients and patient societies are held to identify the objectives, content and use of a common digital health record. This project aims to identify the functionalities and content of information which, patients expects to be contained in a digital health record for patients with chronic diseases.

Method:
A socio-technological approach has been chosen to illustrate the problem with basis in Nardi & O'Day Information Ecology, Marc Berg and SCOT.
The method used to identify the functions and content of information is based on participatory methods. In this case a workshop with visually supported group work and plenary discussion. Condensations of the empirical data, gathered during the workshop are made with reference to Kvale's recommendations.

Result:
Patients pointed out the functionalities and the content of information which is relevant to the digital health record. In particular the patients see the potential of being able to use the digital health record in relation to their social networks.

Conclusion:
The patients is of the impression that the digital health record can improve cross-sectoral collaboration, provide a clearer view of the data from their own diseases, which can support their social networks of chronic patients with similar diseases. With basis in these conclusions, RSI's milestones and with the patients willingness and ability to use the electronic media in mind, it is expected that the introduction and use of the digital health record of chronic patients will to a large degree extend the patients ability to self-care and patient empowerment - opportunities not found in the existing solutions that are currently available for the chronic patients. The digital travelling health record can be considered as a tool to be used in conjunction with trajectory programs and the patient education for patients with chronic diseases.