Internet Consumption Questionnaire

Doctor, Nurse or Apomediary? - What Role should Healthcare Professionals Play in Assisting Patients with Long Term Conditions to Access, and Make Sense of, Information from the Internet

“…The quality of information on the Internet is variable, and may not be applicable or relevant to all cases within a broad diagnostic category. In addition, some treatments described online may not be widely available (Salo et al, 2004); (Dickerson et al, 2004); (de Boer et al, 2007); (Iverson et al, 2008). Thus, patients may access information of a dubious or harmful nature, or which creates false hope or frustration and anger for those who feel that a treatment they have read about, and consider potentially beneficial, is not available to them.…”

“…Checking and reinforcing information with patients and directing them to further online resources may nonetheless improve condition management, and reduce treatment needs in the long term (Iverson et al, 2008), making a short term increase but long term reduction in resource usage. Whilst there are clearly benefits and challenges to patients accessing a range of health related information and advice via the Internet, this is the situation in which practitioners now work, and is likely to continue to be so (Schwartz et al 2006); (de Boer et al, 2007). Health care professionals therefore need to consider the implications which this has for their day to day work, professional roles, and preparation for practice.…”

“…However, over recent years there has been a move towards partnership in care, and recognition of the knowledge and expertise which patients have and can contribute to the management of, and decision making about, their health (Department of Health [DoH], 2001); (Schwartz et al, 2006). There are a number of reasons for this shift, but a significant factor is the increasing volume of information about health related issues that is available to the public via the Internet (Diaz et al, 2002); (Schwartz et al, 2006); (De Boer et al, 2007); (Iverson et al, 2008), (Kommalage, 2009). Patients are increasingly likely to use the Internet to access health related textbooks, journals, reports, conference proceedings, the websites of individuals and organisations, social networking sites, blogs, and support and special interest groups, before, after, or as an alternative to, consultations with healthcare staff.…”