Improving vaginal health care with e-health
The use of e-health in healthcare created new challenges and opportunities with regard to communication and care for both patients and institutions 10, which is also the case for general practice. Ball 11 underlines the idea that e-health requires a different way of thinking where patient involvement and empowerment are increasingly important compared to the traditional way. Patient empowerment has potential to reduce healthcare costs and improve health outcomes. 12 It involves the autonomous participation of the patient in decision-making regarding his or her health by taking a more active role and increased responsibility. Electronic decision making aids are designed to support patients to make preference sensitive and informed choices. 13
“decision aids are superior to standard counselling in improving patient’s knowledge and realistic expectations about the results of treatments and other procedures” (p 1).
In line with patient empowerment, self-medication has become increasingly important in healthcare. 14 According to Hughes et al. “self-medication moves patients towards greater independence in making decisions about management of minor illnesses, thereby promoting empowerment” (p 1017). The increase of freely available drugs also initiates the need to self-diagnose. According to Sihvo et al.7 this self-diagnosis raises concerns in the healthcare sector since the information given in advertisements of over-the-counter drugs might influence women to buy superfluous treatments. Studies showed that most women are not able to self-diagnose their vaginal complaints accurately, and more information should be provided by physicians and pharmacy personnel to help women self-diagnose their complaints better.7, 15
Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop and evaluate an e-tool for self-diagnosis and treatment of vaginal complaints with the goal of improving vaginal health care. The e-tool is not supposed to replace the consultation with the GP altogether, but improve estimation as regards the necessity to make an appointment, wait or self-treat.