Home electronic health information for the consumer: user evaluation of a DiTV video‐on‐demand service

Reports on a qualitative study exploring a highly innovative digital TV pilot service. Focus groups of medical and health information professionals, “condition‐specific” subjects and “general interest” volunteers were recruited to obtain views about the videos generally, in terms of their content and presentation. Issues such as terminology used and the appropriateness of using video to deliver various types of information were also explored; the latter in the light of log statistics indicating relatively low use of videos as compared to text‐based services. Results indicated that those who used the services tended to be avid seekers of information, who saw the service as a first port of call to obtain general information for wider consultation later. Differences emerged between medical professionals and the lay public regarding the use of language and involvement of patients in the videos. Text was regarded as a better medium for conveying some types of information, such as simple facts that might need to be consulted on a regular basis.