 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
|
| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Megan E. Sety, MSW, Center for Children with Special Needs, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, PO Box 50020, Mailstop: S-219, Seattle, WA 98145 and Elizabeth Bennett, MPH, CHES, Health Education Program and Center for Children with Special Needs, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, PO Box 50020, Mailstop: S-217, Seattle, WA 98145, (206) 987-5718, elizabeth.bennett@seattlechildrens.org.
In the last decade we have seen a shift in health care from "doctor knows best" to increased self-awareness, self-education, self-responsibility and self-care. Calabretta suggests that this paradigm shift has been driven in part by the increasing number of Americans turning to the Internet for health information (1). The 2002 report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project, "Vital Decisions," noted that 73 million Americans use the Internet to search for health related information(2). Dubbed "health seekers," they are looking for information on prescription drugs, specific health conditions, doctor visits, alternative treatment, nutrition, mental health issues, sensitive health concerns, and specific service providers. Just as advances in technology and the internet have provided a new platform for both individuals and providers to self-educate, they have opened the door to public health outreach opportunities. This session will illustrate how technology can be used as an affordable and accessible solution to outreach by providing learners with examples of two programs. The email toolkit was developed in response to health care providers who want timely up-to-date resources but do not have time to look for them. The internet training course enabled public health nurses and educators to more effectively find health and diagnosis specific resources. Both programs were based on needs assessment data and utilized elements of social learning theory including knowledge and skill acquisition, self-efficacy and modeling. Implications for reaching diverse populations will be incorporated.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Outreach Programs, Technology
Related Web page: www.cshcn.org/presentations/apha_tech.htm
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Center for Children with Special Needs and Health Education Program at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, WA
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.