Abstract
A study was designed to develop e-health knowledge in Finland, and create quantitative evidence of the benefits of e-health for productivity in the health-care process. First, a literature review was conducted. Then a multiple case study methodology was employed. This involves an interview study and a quantitative analysis of process data in order to understand the primary care processes concerning diabetes. Based on the results from the literature review, e-health has the potential to provide evidence-based, interactive tools to empower patient self-management, enhance practice/provider efficiency and work flow, and improve patient-provider communication. The effects of e-health in chronic disease management seem to be positive. Research is needed in order to evaluate the most efficient methods of handling routine communication and basic care online. We believe that e-health based services will offer effective ways of managing chronic diseases in future.
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