Evaluation of the Dutch AIDS STI information helpline: differential outcomes of telephone versus online counseling.

Health information helplines have an important function in health education, prevention and counseling. Information and help services are increasingly provided online. This study focuses on the differences and similarities between online help services and telephone services. The telephone service of the Dutch AIDS STI helpline was compared to its e-mail equivalent. After consulting the helpline service, both callers and e-mailers (N(tot) = 455) were asked to participate in a survey that evaluated their background characteristics, contacting reasons, and satisfaction with the specific service and information received. The survey also included questions regarding the advice received from the helpline. A follow-up measure 4 weeks after the baseline survey evaluated to what extent clients acted upon the advice. The study shows that both services are positively evaluated and are equally persuasive in their counseling. Differences between callers and e-mailers were found regarding background characteristics, content of the consultation, satisfaction, and the advice received. It can be concluded that online health information services are an important addition to, but not a replacement for, the traditional telephone helplines. In order to provide an optimal health service to a wide public, both online and telephone counseling should be offered.

Mevissen FE ，Eiling E ，Bos AE ，Tempert B ，Mientjes M ，Schaalma HP ... -  《-》

Evaluation of the Dutch AIDS information helpline: an investigation of information needs and satisfaction of callers.

Bos AE ，Visser GC ，Tempert BF ，Schaalma HP ... -  《PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING》

The Dutch cancer information helpline: more critical patients after 10 years.

Reubsaet A ，Lechner L ，De Vries H 《-》

Rheumatology telephone helplines: patient and health professionals' requirements.

The aim of this study was to ascertain patients' and health professionals' requirements from a rheumatology helpline and how such a service should be delivered. Self-completed questionnaires were administered to both users of rheumatology helplines, patients and health professionals (HPs), and providers of rheumatology services at five UK NHS trusts. Additional data were sought from experts in the field. Information was elicited on access to the service, preferred waiting time for response to a call, acceptability of an answerphone and choice of HP responding. Quantitative data were analysed using percentages and Chi-squared tests. Open questions were analysed as free text responses, and organized into clusters of themes. A total of 607 questionnaires were returned, 523 from users (411 patients, 112 health professionals) and 84 from providers. There were no significant differences across the five Trusts. The top six reasons for patients contacting the helpline were: advice on changes in condition, drug information, understanding symptoms, blood results, information on diagnosis, and appointment queries. All groups recommended a return call on the same day and were happy to leave an answerphone message. HP users requested additional access via e-mail and fax. Rheumatology practitioners were deemed the most appropriate personnel to staff a helpline. The findings of this study have contributed a valuable insight into the essential components of a rheumatology helpline service from a user and provider perspective. These data will add to existing recommendations for the management of a rheumatology helpline service and ultimately contribute to a proposal for national guidelines.

Brown SJ ，McCabe CS ，Hewlett S ，McDowell JA ，Cushnaghan J ，Breslin AM ，Stafford S ，Carmichael CR ... -  《-》

Evaluation of two AIDS prevention interventions for inner-city adolescent and young adult women.

Quirk ME ，Godkin MA ，Schwenzfeier E 《AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE》