Application deadline

Singular Course Admission deadlines:

Applications from Nordic countries: 1 December for the spring semester and 1 June for the autumn semester.

Exchange students: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester.

Type of course

Theoretical and practical.

The course can be taken as a singular course as long as the admission requirements for the Master Programme are satisfied.

Admission requirements

Bachelor Degree in Health related disciplines.

Code: 9371 (Singular Course - Master - for Nordic countries)

Course content

The course is a central part of the Master's Programme, and it covers a central field within e-health as well as methodological issues important for the Master's thesis.

The course will cover the following topics:

1) Definitions of 'Net health services'.

2) The use of Net health services: Norway, EU and the U.S.

3) Objectives related to the use of Net health services.

4) Challenges related to the use of Net health services.

5) Studies of outcomes of Net health services.

6) Writing a research protocol.

7) Surveys: What are they and what are they good for?

8) Questionnaire design.

Objectives of the course

Learning Outcomes:

Following the course, the students should be able to:

1) Define 'Net health services'.

2) Describe the use of Net health services in Europe and the U.S.

3) Discuss objectives and challenges related to the use of Net health services.

4) Critically appraise scientific work on telemedicine and e-health, including studies on outcomes.

5) Compose a research protocol.

6) Describe what a survey is and how surveys can be used.

7) Design a questionnaire.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Assessment

2-weeks' take-home examination based on a specific assignment.

Norwegian grading system: A-E, with F as fail.

There will not be arranged a re-sit exam for this course.

Recommended reading/syllabus

Articles:

Andreassen H, Sandaune AG, Gammon D, Hjortdahl P. Nordmenns bruk av helsetilbud på internett [Norwegian use of Internet health services] Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2002;122(17):1640-4. Norwegian (English abstract). Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12555603?ordinalpos=6&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum.

Andreassen H, Sandaune AG, Gammon D, Hjortdahl P. Helserelatert bruk av Internett i den norske befolkningen [Health-related use of the Internet in the Norwegian population] Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2006;126:2950-2. Norwegian (English abstract). Available at: http://www.tidsskriftet.no/pls/lts/pa_lt.visSummary?vp_SEKS_ID=1453351

Andreassen HK, Bujnowska-Fedak MM, Chronaki CE, Dumitru RC, Pudule I, Santana S, Voss H, Wynn R. European citizens' use of E-health services: a study of seven countries.

BMC Public Health 2007;7:53. Available at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/7/53

Baker L, Wagner TH, Singer S, Bundorf MK. Use of the Internet and e-mail for health care information: results from a national survey. JAMA. 2003 May 14;289(18):2400-6. Available at: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/289/18/2400

Fox S. E-patients with a disability or chronic disease. Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2007. Available at: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2007/Epatients-With-a-Disability-or-Chronic-Disease.aspx

Fox S. Online Health Search 2006. Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2006. Available at: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2006/Online-Health-Search-2006.aspx

Fox S. Health Information Online. Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2005. Available at: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2005/Health-Information-Online.aspx

Fox S. Prescription drugs online. Pew Internet and American Life Project, 2004. Available at:
http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2004/Prescription-Drugs-Online.aspx

University College London Hospitals. Guidelines for completing a research protocol. 2006. Available at: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/joint-rd-unit/statistics/obs_protocol_guidelines.pdf

WHO. Recommended format for a research protocol. 2008. Available at: http://www.who.int/rpc/research_ethics/format_rp/en/print.html.

Iarossi G. The power of survey design: A user's guide for managing surveys, interpreting results, and influencing respondents. The World Bank, Washington DC, 2005. Available as e-book through University Library of Tromsø.

Forkner-Dunn J. Internet-based patient self-care: The next generation of health care delivery. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2003;5(2):e8. Available at: http://www.jmir.org/2003/2/e8

Bergmo TS, Kummervold PE, Gammon D, Dahl LB. Electronic patient-provider communication: will it offset office visits and telephone consultations in primary care?

Int J Med Inform 2005; 74:705-10.
Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T7S-4GV98B6-1&_user=596705&_coverDate=09%2F30%2F2005&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000030698&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=596705&md5=a1ea514ac4fee6cc7c05dc0847a1e303&searchtype=a

Eysenbach G, Powell J, Englesakis M, Rizo C, Stern A. Health related virtual communities and electronic support groups: systematic review of the effects of online peer to peer interactions. BMJ 2004;328:1166. Available from: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/328/7449/1166

Griffiths KM, Christensen H. Website quality indicators for consumers. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2005;7(5):e55. Available at: http://www.jmir.org/2005/5/e55

Commission of the European Communities. eEurope2002: Quality criteria for health related websites. 2002. Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/eeurope/ehealth/doc/communication_acte_en_fin.pdf

Marks IM, Cavanagh K, Gega L. Computer-aided psychotherapy: revolution or bubble? Br J Psychiatry 2007;191:471-3.

Clarke G, Eubanks D. Reid E, Kelleher C, O'Connor E, DeBar LL, Lynch F, Nunley S; Gullion C. Overcoming depression on the internet (ODIN) (2): A randomized trial of a self-help depression skills program with reminders. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2005;2:e16. Available at: http://www.jmir.org/2005/2/e16

Murray E, Burns J, See Tai S, Lai R, Nazareth I. Interactive Health Communication Applications for people with chronic disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 4. Summary available from: http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab004274.html

Christensen H, Griffiths KM, Jorm AF. Delivering interventions for depression by using the internet: randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2004;328:265-269. Available at: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=14742346

Haythornthwaite C, Nielsen AL. Revisiting computer-mediated communication for work, community and learning. In Gackenbach J (ed.) Psychology and the internet. London: Academic Press, 2007. 167-186.

King SA, Moreggi D. Internet self-help and support groups: The pros and cons of text-based mutual aid. In Gackenbach J (ed.) Psychology and the internet. London: Academic Press, 2007. 221-244.

Gillispie JF. Cyber Shrinks: Expanding the paradigm. In Gackenbach J (ed.) Psychology and the internet. London: Academic Press, 2007. 245-276.

Harris M, Taylor G. Medical statistics made easy. London: Martin Dunitz, 2004.

Additional material may be distributed during lectures.