HIA and Digital Health Services
(Background and Methodology)
Dr. Irfan Ghani
Dr. Sue Wright
Prof. Jayne Parry
Dr. John Kemm
Digital Health Services
• Recent developments in information
technology has revolutionised provision of
healthcare
• A range of health related resources are
available around the clock through a variety of
digital media.
• Digital exclusion raises the issue of health
inequalities and the potential impacts of
digital technologies on population health
UK –POLICY CONTEXT
Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS (Department of Health)
•NHS information revolution...
•Provide people access to comprehensive, trustworthy and easy to
understand information from a range of sources on conditions, treatments,
lifestyle choices and how to look after their own and their family’s health.
•Patients need and should have far more information and data on all aspects
of healthcare, to enable them to share in decisions made about their care and
find out much more easily about services that are available……… No decision
about me without me
•Empower and liberate clinicians to innovate, with the freedom to focus on
improving healthcare services
HIA- Digital Health Service
• Commissioned by the Regional Strategic Health
Authority
• Delivered by a consortium
• An ecosystem providing a range of information
and resources for NHS staff, patients and the
public.
• Delivers the content through a range of media
including written reports, video clips, diaries,
blogs, online training, case studies, interactive
tools (including mapping).
Aims of the Service
• To improve health outcomes and health care
delivery for patients and the public
• To empower patients and the public to make
informed choices about their health
• To support health professionals in delivering
safe, high quality, innovative healthcare
services and developing their career.
Community Profile
• 5.4 million population (Higher South Asian
Population than the National level)
• Deprivation, child poverty, homelessness and
GCSE achievement are all worse than the
England average.
• The deprivation varies across the region, with
high levels of deprivation in the urban areas.
Health Profile
• The life expectancy is significantly worse in
region than national averages
• Highest infant death rate of the English
regions.
• % of adults and children who are obese is
higher than the national average
• Significantly fewer adults are physically active
and eating healthy than nationally
HIA Questions
• Impact on the health of people
• Impact on health equalities
HIA Methodology
Focusing ….on three groups
•Health care professionals
•Patients/ carers
•Public
…..One condition, diabetes
•Significant health issue for the Region
•Significance for the above 3 groups
ACCESS
ACT ON INFORMATION
HEALTH CARE STAFF
Up to date information on
conditions & procedures
Digital
Health
Service
Training and sharing of
best Practice/ innovations)
Platform for creating
online communities of
practice for staff groups
PATIENTS/ CARERS
Continuing Professional
Development
Information on health
Services (signposting,
access)
Digital
Health
Service
Platform for creating
online communities to
share experiences
Information on health
conditions
PUBLIC
Information on Services
(signposting, access)
Digital
Health
Service
Platform for creating
online communities to
share experiences
Information on lifestyle
Improved and
Efficient Clinical
Practice
Culture of
innovation
Reduced Training
Costs
Empowered Staff
OUTCOMES
Improved health
outcomes for
patients
Efficient
utilisation of the
NHS resources
Efficient
utilisation of
health services
Improved health
outcomes for
patients
Make informed
choices about
Health
Efficient
utilisation of the
NHS resources
Efficient
utilisation of
health services
Improved health
outcomes for
population
Healthier lifestyle
choices
Efficient
utilisation of the
NHS resources
HIA METHODOLOGY
• Literature Review
• Stakeholders Interviews
• Survey of Service Users
Literature Review
• Assess the evidence of the potential impacts
of the service on population health and health
inequalities
• Assess each links in the causal pathways for
each of the three groups (public, patients and
professionals) in relation to diabetes by
looking for evidence to support these or
refute these and to gain some insight into the
size of the impacts.
Limitations:
Literature Review
•Various methodological limitations
•No reviews available on information / education on internet only
•A great deal of variability in results
•Concerns regarding the generalisability of the results
•Lack of studies showing long term effects
•Access to the internet and use of digital technologies are increasing
and with this comes a cultural change in acceptance, use and
perceived benefits. There will always be a time lag between
publication of the literature and access and use of digital technologies.
Stakeholders Interview
Survey Of Service Users
• Undertaking survey at the local Diabetic
voluntary groups
• Reviewing the key results of the survey
carried out by the Commissioners
Progress
• Literature Review, Stakeholders Interviews and
Surveys of users concluded
• Currently undertaking appraisal of the impacts
Reflections
• The project was already under progress but
still developing…
• An ecosystem with aims and objectives
evolving ..