Web 2.0 systems supporting childhood chronic disease management: A pattern language representation of a general architecture

Web 2.0 systems supporting childhood chronic disease management: A pattern language representation of a general architecture

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, November 2008

19040738

Toomas Timpka, Henrik Eriksson, Johnny Ludvigsson, Joakim Ekberg, Sam Nordfeldt, Lena Hanberger

Chronic disease management is a global health concern. By the time they reach adolescence, 10-15% of all children live with a chronic disease. The role of educational interventions in facilitating adaptation to chronic disease is receiving growing recognition, and current care policies advocate greater involvement of patients in self-care. Web 2.0 is an umbrella term for new collaborative Internet services characterized by user participation in developing and managing content. Key elements include Really Simple Syndication (RSS) to rapidly disseminate awareness of new information; weblogs (blogs) to describe new trends, wikis to share knowledge, and podcasts to make information available on personal media players. This study addresses the potential to develop Web 2.0 services for young persons with a chronic disease. It is acknowledged that the management of childhood chronic disease is based on interplay between initiatives and resources on the part of patients, relatives, and health care professionals, and where the balance shifts over time to the patients and their families.