Using Web 2.0 for Health Information

Citation

Isfandyari‐Moghaddam, A. (2012), "Using Web 2.0 for Health Information", The Electronic Library, Vol. 30 No. 1, pp. 152-153. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471211204178

The internet has been relentlessly and speedily penetrating most of the activities of contemporary life including information work. This has been enriched by the phenomenon Web 2.0 used as an umbrella term for a much more interactive and collaborative evolution of the internet. As evidence for such a penetration we can point to the health sector. Using Web 2.0 for Health Information concentrates on the provision of healthcare using Web 2.0‐based information services and it provides a snapshot overview of how some health organisations and professionals are using Web 2.0 applications. This edited collection is divided into 15 chapters distributed in 4 parts, written by experienced experts including the editors. Part 1 “The basics” (embracing two chapters) has an overview on health information, healthcare information settings, the role of information professionals, and the application(s) of Web 2.0 in healthcare information. Part 2 “Web 2.0 and the implications for health information” (six chapters) deals generally with education, learning, research, and meeting patients' information needs via emerging digital technologies including Web 2.0 and its tools in health, medicine, and related fields. This part ends with an outstanding chapter within which some ethical and legal considerations in the use of Web 2.0 are discussed. Part 3 “Web applications in health information provision: some practical examples” (five chapters) provides readers with some case studies in the use of Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs, RSS, wikis, podcasts, Twitter, and Facebook to enhance information services for healthcare. They cover settings such as health and hospital libraries, and human resources including faculty members, residents, staff, librarians, and information professionals. Part 4 “The future” (two chapters) offers a prospective view highlighting the future of health librarians and health information services in the shadow of Web 3.0 and the Semantic Web. It also contains some concluding remarks which will be of importance for librarians as information mediators, information facilitators, and information educators who truly can meet the information needs of end‐users in healthcare environments. The work has a glossary and index to guide and help readers. This book can be of value and interest for a variety of audiences both in healthcare and non‐healthcare environments including top managers, policy makers and decision makers, IT managers, librarians and information professionals as information innovators, students, professors, researchers, IT personnel, and end‐users. Reading it will present readers with good opportunities, new horizons, and interesting research topics.