How global is 'e-Health' and 'knowledge translation'?

Abstract

A major element of e-Health (the use of information and communications technology for health and health care) is the application of strategies and tools to support the dissemination of knowledge among health-care providers, patients and the general public. As such, e-Health would be expected to be recognized as a significant user of technology-enabled knowledge translation (TEKT). There is a perception that e-Health is global in its pervasiveness and is most successfully implemented when supported by knowledge translation (KT). Through a structured and focused literature review, this study gathered evidence to identify how pervasive e-Health is among the world's 248 recognized countries, and how extensively KT is acknowledged as a tool to support introduction of sustainable e-Health solutions. Evidence for the presence of an e-Health-related activity within the last 15 years was found for all but 31 of the world's 238 United Nations (UN) recognised countries (13%), most of which were island protectorates. While evidence of widespread recognition of KT was evident, overt association of KT with e-Health was identified in only two countries (Canada and the USA). Key findings emerging from this study were that e-Health can be considered 'global' in its pervasiveness, but that KT remains a recognized entity in only a limited number of countries. Further, the application KT is not essential for the introduction of e-Health solutions; however, implementing sustainable e-Health is best supported by linking and aligning KT with e-Health planning. These both raise the awareness of KT but, moreover, contribute to the body of evidence substantiating the utility and value of e-Health solutions.