Training Future Health and Information Technologies Professionals on the European Health Data Space.

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: Not reported

• Effect Size: Not quantified

• Primary Outcome: Significant gains in students' conceptual understanding of EHDS

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: Not applicable - educational intervention study

• Confidence Interval: Not reported

Clinical Application

Educational interventions are generally feasible but require curriculum integration and faculty training Limited direct applicability as Australia has different digital health frameworks (My Health Record, Australian Digital Health Agency) compared to EHDS, though principles of health data governance education remain relevant Health and information technology students in higher education

Abstract

The European Health Data Space (EHDS) furthers the EU's digital health transformation by enabling secure access to electronic health data by facilitating environments for health data sharing. The topic of EHDS is relatively new and remains underrepresented in most academic curricula in both medical and informatics fields. This study evaluates the impact of a structured educational intervention to improve awareness, understanding, and preparedness among future health and information technology professionals to engage with EHDS-related systems and policies. Conducted at the University of Oulu, the intervention included training sessions, practical examples, and interactive discussions on topics such as the primary and secondary uses of health data, legal frameworks, and technical infrastructure. The survey's results showed significant gains in students' conceptual understanding of EHDS, particularly in distinguishing between primary and secondary uses of health data. We found that students with a European background reported slightly higher familiarity with EHDS-related rights and frameworks. The findings underscore the importance of embedding EHDS education in academic programs to build a digitally competent, informed workforce capable of supporting EHDS implementation. This intervention contributes to the portfolio of learning materials, developed by the SUSA project to integrate digital health policy and governance into multidisciplinary higher education curricula across the EU.