Information Therapy

Information therapy is a healthcare term, describing the timely prescription and availability of evidence-based health information to meet individuals' specific needs and support sound decision making.

Information therapy works by engaging the consumer in the process of care. Unlike free-floating health content on the Web, information therapy involves giving the patient only information relevant to his or her current moment in care. Information therapy can be clinician-prescribed, system-prescribed, or consumer-prescribed.

Some commonly used methods for information therapy include:

• Clinic visits can be preceded and/or followed by information therapy prescriptions.

• Medical tests and surgery can be preceded and/or followed by information therapy prescriptions.

• Information prescriptions communicated through physician/patient emails or delivered through a patient portal can extend the continuity of care.

The use of technology in information therapy
While information therapy can be delivered through low-tech techniques, such as handing out information pamphlets or sending them through the post, the advent of new technologies has enabled clinicians and health systems to more efficiently and effectively deliver information therapy over a variety of mediums.

Technologies such as electronic medical record systems, order entry systems, and the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs), are all examples of electronic infrastructures that can deliver information therapy to consumers. By attaching "information triggers" to these systems, tailored, customized information prescriptions can be automatically sent to either a patient’s email account or to a secure patient portal. As the patient experiences new symptoms, conditions or other health issues, the provider can respond with specific prescriptions of information. Furthermore, the user can track information that can be useful for managing chronic disease.