Adoption, acceptability, and accuracy of an online clinical trial matching website for breast cancer.

Background: Less than 5% of breast cancer patients participate in clinical trials. To increase patients' awareness and access to trials, we created BreastCancerTrials.org, a clinical trial matching website.

User-centered research on breast cancer patient needs and preferences of an Internet-based clinical trial matching system.

Background: Internet-based clinical trial matching systems have the potential to streamline the search process for women with breast cancer seeking alternative treatments. A prototype system was developed to leverage the capabilities of a personal health record system for the purpose of identifying clinical trials.

Objective: This study examines how breast cancer patients perceive and interact with a preliminary version of an Internet-based clinical trial matching system, while taking into account the demands of diagnosis and treatment decision making.

E-pharmacy: improving patient care and managing risk.

While far behind certain other sectors of the American economy, health care will increasingly use information technology for content provision, communication, commerce, and complete integration of systems. In emerging electronically based health care systems, pharmacists have a great opportunity because of their specialized knowledge, accessibility, and the trust people have in them. A variety of technologic innovations under development will help create a safer medication-use system.

Developing the health information infrastructure in the United States.

Consumers, patients, and their families; health care providers and managers; public health professionals and policy makers need integrated multi-function health information structures that allow them to locate and apply information when and where they need it to make better decisions about health. The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS), which advises the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) on health information policy, is promoting a comprehensive vision of the National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII). The NHII is defined as the set of technologies, standards, applications, systems, values, and laws that support all facets of individual health, health care, and public health.