Internet Generates New Roles for RNs

Did you ever think a career in nursing would involve searching the Internet for health information or answering people's health questions by e-mail? Neither did Susan Jacka, RN, MN, who recently became one of only a small number of registered nurses across Canada involved in online health.

Jacka is part of a federal government initiative that uses online technology to increase access to health information and educate Canadians on disease prevention and health promotion. She took the new role last year after Health Canada awarded the management contract of the cardiovascular disease and stroke content on the Canadian Health Network website to Capital Health.

"My job is to get the most current and accurate cardiovascular disease and stroke information on our website," says Jacka, who joined the Capital Health team as a content specialist after recently completing her masters degree in nursing.

Health Canada recognized early on that Canadians needed access to trustworthy Canadian e-health information. The Canadian Health Network (CHN) website, www.canadian-health-network.ca, was created in 1999 in an effort to fill this gap. Since 1999, the desire for e-health information has grown exponentially. According to a recent study, 59 per cent of Canadians search for health information on the Internet and use these resources to research their health concerns. It seems Canadians are taking a more and more active role in managing their health. It is not unusual these days for patients to show up at health clinics or offices with printouts from the Internet.

The Public Health Agency of Canada now oversees the CHN website which has 27 different health content areas, ranging from healthy eating and mental health, to diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease and stroke. To better manage the wealth of online information, CHN approached non-profit organizations from across Canada to manage and maintain the e-health resources.

"We don't try to reinvent the wheel and create new online resources," says Jacka. "I search the Internet for quality information that is already online, preferably Canadian. I then review the content to ensure it is up-to-date and accurate. We link to that resource from our website.

My clinical experience helps me evaluate resources from a patient's perspective and my education gives me the technical and theoretical expertise that allows me to properly critique and assess the information. This skill-set facilitates my selection of quality health resources for the website."

Jacka suggests that the best online health resources use plain English. "If someone searches for 'stroke risk factors' and they get a medical resource on the topic, this information probably won't be of much use to the general public because the language may be too complex. We try to eliminate this issue on our website."

"I also think it is important that Canadians know that a health professional, ideally an expert in that particular field, is reviewing and approving this information. It will give them peace of mind that the information is trustworthy."

The website also offers an e-mail feature where the public can submit a health information request on a particular health topic. Jacka answers the ones related to heart disease and stroke.

"The e-mails are often very general, such as asking for definitions of medical terms, but other questions seem very personal. I get the feeling that these people did not know where to turn for answers. I try my best to answer their questions given the limitation of the technology."

Under Canadian privacy laws, health information requests are strictly confidential. The e-mails are never forwarded to anyone and confidentiality of personal health information is maintained.

Jacka admits that while she misses the daily contact with patients, her latest nursing role offers a new career direction.

"I used to teach patients how to deep breathe and cough to prevent post-operative respiratory complications. I only connected with patients after they were already at-risk or in treatment," she says. "This new job has given me the opportunity to teach thousands of at-risk Canadians how to prevent a stroke or heart disease."

Jacka didn't foresee this job or even this kind of online health information resource ten years ago but she is sure that it is here to stay. "I think we will be seeing a lot more jobs like mine in the future. We are providing such a valuable health resource to Canadians and it is exciting to be involved in such a large-scale project. I look forward to seeing the technology evolve and nurses playing an integral part in its future."