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Americans are increasingly turning to the Internet for health related information, especially when searching for a physician or other health care specialist. According to a recent Harris Poll, 150 million people web users in the US have searched for health information on-line.
Web ‘‘health seekers’’ otherwise referred to in the survey as ‘cyberchondriacs’ (i.e. individuals accessing sites pertaining to diseases, medical treatment, and other health related topics) use Web information to:
(1) change their decision about how to treat their illness (70%)
(2) lead them to ask new questions or obtain a second opinion from another doctor (50%)
(3) influence their decision whether or not to visit a doctor (28%)
(4) improve the way they take care of themselves (48%)
Greater consumer access to health information, technologic advances, and on-line social networking has, in no small part, altered traditional patient-doctor roles and shifted health care to be more consumer-driven. Technology and innovation has made possible additional avenues for communication that can enhance relationships and lead to better health outcomes. Not only is it prudent to understand the relationship between health and the Internet, but it is becoming standard. Even Uncle Sam now mandates the use of IT you want to get paid, primarily through electronic medical records (EMR) and meaningful use requirements.
According to the poll, over half of adult Americans believed that that their choice of doctor would be influenced by whether that doctor offered some form of electronic communication. When given a choice between a doctor who uses email to communicate directly with them or a family member, 62% said it would influence their choice of doctors a “great deal”, despite that 75% said their doctor does not currently use it. Of these, 77 % would like reminders via email from their doctors when due for a visit or for other medical care, 75% would like to schedule a visit over the internet, 74% would like to use e-mail to communicate directly with their doctor and 62% would like to receive test results via email. Though, 62% said that they believe the use of electronic records makes it more difficult to ensure patient privacy.
A physician offering benefits such as, a secure means for on-line communication, on-line appointment booking and access to personal health records could be at a significant advantage in the coming years.
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1. Krane D. Number of “Cyberchondriacs” – US Adults Who Go Online For Health Information Increases to Estimated 117 Million. The Interactive Harris Poll Healthcare News. Volume 5, Issue 8, July 2005.
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