Developing and assessing health information technologies: opportunities and challenges

As HITs proliferate across health systems, it becomes increasingly important for health professionals to understand the methods that can be used to assess their impacts. This article highlights some of the approaches that may help with these processes, including the use of implementation frameworks, an awareness of the benefits of mixed-methods of assessment and the need for caution when reaching judgements about the generalisability of findings described in HIT evaluation reports (particularly when considering their application in children's healthcare settings). Using these approaches may help to ensure that the most effective HITs are developed and implemented in clinical practice.