Growing Number Of Patients Turn To Internet For Health Information

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 22 Oct 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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A growing number of people with chronic or serious illnesses are going online to research their health problems, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. According to a recent study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, about 51% of people with a disability or chronic illness use the Internet, compared with 74% of the general population, but once people with illnesses get online, they become more frequent users.

The study also found that about three-quarters of so-called "e-patients" said information they found online affected their treatment decision, and nearly 69% said information found online led them to ask their physicians new questions or get a second opinion. However, according to the study, 67% of e-patients said they do not always check the source or date of online information.

Susannah Fox, associate director of the Pew project, said the health care industry used to discouraged patients from doing online research, but now medical organizations are launching their own Web sites and steering people toward credible online health information.

Kathleen Toomey, an oncologist and medical director of the Steeplechase Cancer Center in Somerville, N.J., said although patients might be doing some of the research, doctors still must put information into perspective. "Our job now is to make sure it's in a form they can understand and digest," she said. "They still need that one-on-one. It still takes a village of nurses, doctors and dietitians to educate our patients" (Heyboer, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 10/17).

The Pew Internet & American Life Project study is available online (.pdf).

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