Health on the Internet: implications for health promotion

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss the implications of health on the Internet for health promotion, focusing in particular on the concept of empowerment. Empowering aspects of health on the Internet include the enabling of advanced information and knowledge retrieval, anonymity and convenience in accessing information, creation of social contacts and support independent of time and space, and challenging the expert-lay actor relationship. The disempowering aspects of health on the Internet are that it involves a shift towards the expert control and evaluation of sources of health information, that it widens the gap between 'information-rich' and 'information-poor' users, thus reproducing existing social divisions, and that the increase in medicalization and healthism results in increased anxiety and poorer health. The health promotive and empowering strategies presented in this article are directed at strengthening people's ability to evaluate different information sources in relation to their own interests and needs rather than in relation to scientific and/or professional standards.

Health anxiety and Internet use: A thematic analysis

“…This finding also supports CBT theory relating to doctor distrust and doctor shopping (Wells, 1997), where doctor distrust could lead to a need to justify one's concerns, and/or find alternative doctors who 'believe' that the patient is seriously ill. Furthermore, our finding could represent a form of self-empowerment using Internet-based health information (Korp, 2006), and/or further evidence of past negative doctor experiences.…”

Internet na promoção da saúde: um instrumento para o desenvolvimento de habilidades pessoais e sociais

“…a dificuldade de compreender as informações encontradas, ou ainda separar a boa informação da informação ruim, é uma questão importante, em especial em países onde a população apresenta baixos níveis de escolaridade (CastIel et al, 2003;ZIeBland, 2004a;nettleton et al, 2005;seale, 2005). alguns autores destacam o potencial medicalizante da internet (GInMan, 2003;KoRP, 2006;BRooM et al, 2008), na medida em que se entende medicalização como a compreensão crescente de diversos aspectos da vida diária, comportamentos e atitudes em termos médicos (Zola, 1972;ConRad, 1992;ConRad, 2007). no entanto, a principal barreira para a plena utilização da internet em projetos de promoção da saúde, em especial com foco no desenvolvimento de habilidades pessoais por meio da informação e educação em saúde, ainda está na divisão/exclusão digital de boa parte da população brasileira (CastIel et al, 2003;soRJ et al, 2005).…”

Untitled

“…12,13,14 Research shows that availability of health-related information contributed to the improvement of peoples' understanding of health-related issues, better self-care, reduced anxiety and ambulatory care needs 15, 16, 17. Furthermore, access to health information can enhance convenience and anonymity, improve social links and challenge lay-expert relationships. 18 Researchers have increasingly considered patients' psychological states, social conditions and other relevant factors on which their living standard and efficient control over their health depend. 7 They have also considered the capability of healthcare services to transform the way of life.…”