What Is eHealth (3): A Systematic Review of Published Definitions
2005

Understanding eHealth: A Review of Definitions

Sample size: 51 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Hans Oh, Carlos Rizo, Murray Enkin, Alejandro Jadad, John Powell, Claudia Pagliari

Primary Institution: Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, University Health Network

Hypothesis

What is the range of definitions for eHealth as published in the literature?

Conclusion

The study found a wide range of definitions for eHealth, indicating a general understanding of the term despite the lack of consensus.

Supporting Evidence

  • The review identified 51 unique definitions of eHealth.
  • Two universal themes were identified: health and technology.
  • The definitions varied widely, reflecting different perspectives and contexts.

Takeaway

eHealth is a term that means different things to different people, but it generally involves using technology to help with health care.

Methodology

A systematic review of published definitions of eHealth was conducted using various databases and qualitative analysis methods.

Limitations

The review does not report the frequency of definitions used or their impact.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.2196/jmir.7.1.e1

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