Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/13908
Title: E-health: potential benefits and challenges in providing and accessing sexual health services
Contributor(s): Minichiello, Victor  (author); Rahman, Saifur  (author); Dune, Tinashe  (author); Scott, John  (author)orcid ; Dowsett, Gary (author)
Publication Date: 2013
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-790Open Access Link
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/13908
Abstract: Background: E-health has become a burgeoning field in which health professionals and health consumers create and seek information. E-health refers to internet-based health care and information delivery and seeks to improve health service locally, regionally and worldwide. E-sexual health presents new opportunities to provide online sexual health services irrespective of gender, age, sexual orientation and location. Discussion: The paper used the dimensions of the RE-AIM model (reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation and maintenance) as a guiding principle to discuss potentials of E-health in providing and accessing sexual health services. There are important issues in relation to utilising and providing online sexual health services. For healthcare providers, e-health can act as an opportunity to enhance their clients' sexual health care by facilitating communication with full privacy and confidentiality, reducing administrative costs and improving efficiency and flexibility as well as market sexual health services and products. Sexual health is one of the common health topics which both younger and older people explore on the internet and they increasingly prefer sexual health education to be interactive, non-discriminate and anonymous. This commentary presents and discusses the benefits of e-sexual health and provides recommendations towards addressing some of the emerging challenges. Future directions: The provision of sexual health services can be enhanced through E-health technology. Doing this can empower consumers to engage with information technology to enhance their sexual health knowledge and quality of life and address some of the stigma associated with diversity in sexualities and sexual health experiences. In addition, e-sexual health may better support and enhance the relationship between consumers and their health care providers across different locations. However, a systematic and focused approach to research and the application of findings in policy and practice is required to ensure that E-health benefits all population groups and the information is current and clinically valid and effective, including preventative approaches for various client groups with diverse needs.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: BMC Public Health, v.13, p. 1-7
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd
Place of Publication: United Kingdom
ISSN: 1471-2458
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 111716 Preventive Medicine
111712 Health Promotion
111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 420317 Patient safety
420603 Health promotion
420399 Health services and systems not elsewhere classified
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 920413 Social Structure and Health
920499 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) not elsewhere classified
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 200413 Substance abuse
200207 Social structure and health
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Publisher/associated links: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/13/790
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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