The Production And Self-Production Of Model Patients Through Health Information Technology (IT). (360G-Wellcome-104874_Z_14_Z)

The Department of Health report 'The Power of Information: Putting us all in control of the health and care information we need' (2012) heralded a new policy intended to place patients at the centre of managing of their health, and to promote a culture of 'no decision about me without me'. This policy assumes that health information belongs to patients and that patients are willing and able to use health IT (e.g. electronic interfaces or health applications) to manage their care. Through the use of IT, patients will be able to access their medical records online, and interact with healthcare professionals. They will also become knowledgeable about available treatments, and empowered to make informed choices. The portrayal of patients in health policy shapes decisions about what technologies are developed and this, in turn, influences the nature, processes and the quality of healthcare delivery. We propose a scoping study, which aims to explore how IT is involved in the attainment o f patients' self-management in the context of the current and alternative policy. The study will gather information from interviews with relevant stakeholders (NHS Commissioning Board, health ICT providers and patient associations) and from relevant documents.