Self help e-health applications as primart health care tools

Abstract

With the ageing of the Australian population, the cost of the health care system is projected to grow substantially over the next 30 years [1]. According to the 2008 national e-health strategy maintaining Australia's current good health outcomes in the face of these pressure will require a fundamental change in the way health care is delivered.[2]. E-health technologies offer a promising means for addressing this problem, particularly with respect to delivering high quality evidence-based treatments direct to the consumer. The current report summarises the activities and outcomes of an APHCRI-funded visit to Australia by Dr Lee Ritterband, an international expert in the field of e-health self help technologies for improving health outcomes. In this report, primary health care is interpreted broadly to refer to the provision of first level care in any setting including the delivery of self-help e-health services direct to the public.