Kim P Wagenaar1, Frans H Rutten1, Leonie Klompstra2, Yusuf Bhana3, Floor Sieverink4, Frank Ruschitzka5, Petar M Seferovic6,7, Mitja Lainscak8, Massimo F Piepoli9, Berna D L Broekhuizen1, Anna Strömberg2, Tiny Jaarsma2, Arno W Hoes1, Kenneth Dickstein10. 1. Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. 2. Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. 3. TranslateMedia, London, UK. 4. Centre for eHealth & Welbeing Research, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands. 5. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, Belgrade University School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia. 7. Heart Failure Centre, Belgrade University Medical Centre, Belgrade, Serbia. 8. Department of Cardiology, General Hospital Celje, Celje, Slovenia. 9. Cardiac Department, Guglielmo da Saliceto Polichirurgico Hospital AUSL Piacenza, Piacenza, Italy. 10. Department of Cardiology, Stavanger University Hospital, University of Bergen, Stavanger, Norway.
Abstract
AIMS: In 2007, the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) launched the information website heartfailurematters.org (HFM site) with the aim of creating a practical tool through which to provide advice and guidelines for living with heart failure to patients, their carers, health care professionals and the general public worldwide. The website is managed by the ESC at the European Heart House and is currently available in nine languages. The aim of this study is to describe the background, objectives, use, lessons learned and future directions of the HFM site. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data on the number of visitor sessions on the site as measured by Google Analytics were used to explore use of the HFM site from 2010 to 2015. Worldwide, the annual number of sessions increased from 416 345 in 2010 to 1 636 368 in 2015. Most users (72-75%) found the site by using a search engine. Desktops and, more recently, smartphones were used to visit the website, accounting for 50% and 38%, respectively, of visits to the site in 2015. CONCLUSIONS: Although its use has increased, the HFM site has not yet reached its full potential: fewer than 2 million users have visited the website, whereas the number of people living with heart failure worldwide is estimated to be 23 million. Uptake and use could be further improved by a continuous process of qualitative assessment of users' preferences, and the provision of professional helpdesk facilities, comprehensive information technology, and promotional support.
AIMS: In 2007, the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) launched the information website heartfailurematters.org (HFM site) with the aim of creating a practical tool through which to provide advice and guidelines for living with heart failure to patients, their carers, health care professionals and the general public worldwide. The website is managed by the ESC at the European Heart House and is currently available in nine languages. The aim of this study is to describe the background, objectives, use, lessons learned and future directions of the HFM site. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data on the number of visitor sessions on the site as measured by Google Analytics were used to explore use of the HFM site from 2010 to 2015. Worldwide, the annual number of sessions increased from 416 345 in 2010 to 1 636 368 in 2015. Most users (72-75%) found the site by using a search engine. Desktops and, more recently, smartphones were used to visit the website, accounting for 50% and 38%, respectively, of visits to the site in 2015. CONCLUSIONS: Although its use has increased, the HFM site has not yet reached its full potential: fewer than 2 million users have visited the website, whereas the number of people living with heart failure worldwide is estimated to be 23 million. Uptake and use could be further improved by a continuous process of qualitative assessment of users' preferences, and the provision of professional helpdesk facilities, comprehensive information technology, and promotional support.
Authors: Lisa Hjelmfors; Jan Mårtensson; Anna Strömberg; Anna Sandgren; Maria Friedrichsen; Tiny Jaarsma Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-15 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Lisa Hjelmfors; Martje H L van der Wal; Maria Friedrichsen; Anna Milberg; Jan Mårtensson; Anna Sandgren; Anna Strömberg; Tiny Jaarsma Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2020-10-15 Impact factor: 3.234