Applied Interdisciplinary Theory in Health Informatics: A Book Review.

Abstract

T heory and science are inseparable; every scientific discipline relies on theory to build a foundation for good practice and meaningful research. The discipline of informatics is in a unique position as it is relatively new and is well poised to develop, adopt, and adapt theories that support the numerous activities of informatics stakeholders within many different contexts. While we have borrowed theory from other disciplines, informatics is becoming an area of unique scientific research and discovery, creating a need for its own discipline-specific theories. Despite the growing necessity for unique informatics theory and a subsequent response of new works showcasing new applications of theory, a significant portion of informatics-based work continues to lack reference to (and therefore appears not to be informed or driven by) existing theory as a part of their process. A desperate need exists to disseminate theory to informatics stakeholders in a way that promotes its adoption and use in both research and practice. Applied Interdisciplinary Theory in Health Informatics is edited by Philip Scott, Nicolette de Keizer, and Andrew Georgiou; published in 2019, it showcases a number of theories in health informatics in a way that has not yet been collected in one volume. This book offers three major benefits that should appeal to those interested in health informatics: a concise background on theory, applied use cases for a range of relevant theories and frameworks, and an example of theory synthesis and suggestions for future theory development and related activities. With this layout, this text can be useful to a wide audience from novice to expert. This review will cover several dimensions of the book, including a critique of layout and organization, content, and editors and authorship.