Electronic health indicators in the selected countries: Are these indicators the best?

BACKGROUND: Many changes have been made in different sciences by developing and advancing information and communication technology in last two decades. E-health is a very broad term that includes many different activities related to the use of electronic devices, software as well as hardware in health organizations. AIMS: The aim of this study is comparing electronic health indicators in the selected countries and discussion on the best indicators. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study has chosen 12 countries randomly based on the regional division of the WHO. The relevant numbers of health indicators and general indicators and information technology indicators are extracted of these countries. We use data from the Bitarf's comparative study, which is conducted by the Iranian Supreme Council of Information Technology in 2007. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By using Pearson correlation test, the relations between health general indicators and IT indicators are studied. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data was analyzed based on the research objectives using SPSS software and in accordance with research questions Pearson correlation test were used. RESULTS: The findings show that there is a positive relation between indicators related to IT and “Total per capita health, healthy life expectancy, percent literacy”. Furthermore, there is a mutual relation between IT indicators and “mortality indicator”. CONCLUSION: This study showed differences between selective indicators among different countries. The modern world, with its technological advances, is not powerless in the face of these geographic and health disparity challenges. Researchers must not rely on the available indicators. They must consider indicators like e-business companies, electronic data internet, medical supplies, health electronic record, health information system, etc., In future, continuous studies in this field, to provide the exact and regular reports of amount of using of these indicators through different countries must be necessary.