What is prevention informatics and how does it differ from traditional public health informatics approaches?

Prevention informatics is a proactive approach, advocated by Fuller, that harnesses real-time social data so that prevention responses can be mounted before health problems spread, such as using flu-related Internet searches to prompt school closures. It differs from traditional public health informatics, which has largely focused on reacting to issues and timely intervention rather than using information technology for disease prevention.

According to the text, public health informatics has often emphasized reaction to emerging issues and timely intervention rather than proactive prevention. Fuller advocated for a shift to prevention informatics, which involves harnessing real-time social data, aggregating it, and representing it meaningfully so an appropriate prevention response can be mounted. For example, Internet searches about flu symptoms might trigger a public health response like closing a school to minimize spread. Prevention informatics is described as a useful paradigm for reimagining health information systems and for using the available data, tools, technologies, and systems to respond proactively to health challenges across the globe.