Health e-Technologies for Behavior Change and Disease Management: Opportunities and Challenges
Society of Behavioral Medicine 24th Annual Conference
Master Lecture Abstract
March 20, 2003
David K. Ahern, Ph.D.

Consumers, patients, and providers are increasingly using eHealth applications, particularly the Internet, to seek health information for themselves or family and friends, communicate with others who have similar disease or illness, and to communicate with health care providers. Current trends indicate that Internet users seeking health information and health care services will more than double from 2000 to 2005, reaching 88.5 million people. The increasing use of communication devices, such as cellular phones and PDAs, creates opportunities for patients and providers to benefit from access to emerging eHealth applications for health behavior change and disease management in nontraditional settings. These technologies offer individuals the ability to obtain and utilize health information at relatively low cost, including those with limited access to health care professionals or services, and historically underserved populations. In addition, health care organizations are using these technologies to improve the reach and efficacy of self-management programs and to enable enhanced communication between patients and providers. Barriers to adoption of these technologies exist, however, including limitations of access, health and technology literacy, quality and cost. These challenges must be addressed in order to realize the full potential of health e-Technologies to support behavior change and disease management.