Patient Engagement and Digital Health Communities

This chapter discusses patient engagement and digital health communities emphasizing challenges and opportunities to develop and deploy both engagement and digital communities. Patient engagement involves partnership and shared leadership to determine healthcare needs and interventions. Thus the current opportunities must be aligned and used to engage patients with the challenges initiated by advances in science and technology in global healthcare, and the demand for innovative solutions to address complex problems that are common across countries. Health information is a key factor to improved health conditions and prevention of diseases. Thus technology is a fundamental resource that can be used to provide the population with information and knowledge. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in healthcare can provide opportunities to better leverage resources and improve effectiveness of national and international health systems. As the costs in healthcare reach high levels, new delivery models and technology could improve life conditions to promote healthy living. In patient engagement and digital communities the range of ICT healthcare strategies comprises the creation of websites, portals, social networks, synchronous and asynchronous communication, among others. To achieve success, a digital community must engage the social sector, government, vendors, stakeholders, and special interest groups, like chronic diseases patients' group.