Using Information Technology to Improve Health Information Literacy in Singapore - An Exploratory Study

With many countries facing restructuring of medical and healthcare institutions, increasing healthcare costs, and the threat of various infectious diseases and epidemics, such as avian influenza and dengue haemorrhagic fever, it is inevitable that healthcare information be a major tool in addressing these issues. Doctors and healthcare providers may not always be available to attend to the needs of the masses with regard to health information. Thus, health information must be made easily accessible so that preventive action and proactive measures can be carried out by patients and their families. The proliferation of the Internet and swift developments in Information Technology (IT) can effortlessly expedite this accessibility. In this exploratory study, twelve individuals with medium to high IT competencies and substantial experience in using the Internet were interviewed on their health information needs and expectations. The paper presents their responses and suggestions to improve health information provision and literacy and how IT can be exploited to achieve these objectives.