E-health: Potential Benefits and Challenges in Providing and Accessing Sexual Health Services

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2013 Aug 31

PMID 23987137

Citations 32

Authors

Victor Minichiello

Saifur Rahman

Tinashe Dune

John Scott

Gary Dowsett

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: E-health has become a burgeoning field in which health professionals and health consumers create and seek information. E-health refers to internet-based health care and information delivery and seeks to improve health service locally, regionally and worldwide. E-sexual health presents new opportunities to provide online sexual health services irrespective of gender, age, sexual orientation and location.

Discussion: The paper used the dimensions of the RE-AIM model (reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation and maintenance) as a guiding principle to discuss potentials of E-health in providing and accessing sexual health services. There are important issues in relation to utilising and providing online sexual health services. For healthcare providers, e-health can act as an opportunity to enhance their clients' sexual health care by facilitating communication with full privacy and confidentiality, reducing administrative costs and improving efficiency and flexibility as well as market sexual health services and products. Sexual health is one of the common health topics which both younger and older people explore on the internet and they increasingly prefer sexual health education to be interactive, non-discriminate and anonymous. This commentary presents and discusses the benefits of e-sexual health and provides recommendations towards addressing some of the emerging challenges.

Future Directions: The provision of sexual health services can be enhanced through E-health technology. Doing this can empower consumers to engage with information technology to enhance their sexual health knowledge and quality of life and address some of the stigma associated with diversity in sexualities and sexual health experiences. In addition, e-sexual health may better support and enhance the relationship between consumers and their health care providers across different locations. However, a systematic and focused approach to research and the application of findings in policy and practice is required to ensure that E-health benefits all population groups and the information is current and clinically valid and effective, including preventative approaches for various client groups with diverse needs.

Citing Articles

Opening the digital doorway to sexual healthcare: Recommendations from a behaviour change wheel analysis of barriers and facilitators to seeking online sexual health information and support among underserved populations.

McLeod J, Estcourt C, MacDonald J, Gibbs J, Woode Owusu M, Mapp F PLoS One. 2025; 20(1):e0315049.

PMID: 39775372 PMC: 11709294. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315049.

Enhancing self-care and access - The Dutch stepped care model to strategically organize public sexual health for young people.

Zimbile F, David S, Briedenhann E, Schutte L, Crutzen R Health Care Transit. 2024; 2:100028.

PMID: 39712582 PMC: 11658071. DOI: 10.1016/j.hctj.2023.100028.

A Systematic Review on Psychological Interventions for Sexual Health in Older Age.

Vasconcelos P, Ponce de Leon R, Serruya S, Carneiro B, Nobrega C, Pereira R Int J Sex Health. 2024; 35(3):399-413.

PMID: 38595928 PMC: 10903596. DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2023.2215766.

The Role and Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Addressing Sexually Transmitted Infections, Nonvenereal Genital Diseases, Sexual Health, and Wellness.

Mehta N, Gupta S, Kularathne Y Indian Dermatol Online J. 2023; 14(6):793-798.

PMID: 38099049 PMC: 10718125. DOI: 10.4103/idoj.idoj_426_23.

Informal sexual relationship-associated factors among young adult smartphone users in South of Iran: a cross-sectional study.

Joulaei H, Khaksar E, Ghorbani M, Rahmanipour E, Zarei N, Foroozanfar Z BMC Psychol. 2023; 11(1):131.

PMID: 37098599 PMC: 10131412. DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01179-2.

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