E-health as a component of School Health Services in Lahore

Abstract

Objective: Facilitating health provision to masses involving internet is an emerging aspect of
medical profession. This exploratory study aims to assess the adequacy of such services in
schools of Lahore & form basis for further work up in this aspect.
Material and Methods: Out of 1400 schools registered with BISE, Lahore, private (43) and
public (16) schools of Lahore were included in the study (purposive sampling by inclusion criteria)
who had web pages (n=59); Data was collected by data extraction form through internet &
descriptive analysis was done using SPSS version 17. It was a self-financed study.
Results: Our results concluded that 53% schools (n=59) had well-equipped computer
laboratories; out which 40% were private & only 13% were public, however not all of them
provided access to internet. 39% of the schools regularly updated their websites; 29% were
private & only 10% were public. 28% of the 59 schools provided their telephone numbers which
the parents can contact in case of any emergency or otherwise.14% of the total schools had
health related content available on their website. Only 3% each of both the schools displayed
messages regarding health education.
Conclusion: This study implies that the provision of e-health services in the schools of Lahore is
almost negligible. Internet is a rising technology in Pakistan and steps should be taken to
incorporate internet based innovations in the school health policy of Pakistan.