Patients’ Internet Use
Patients’ internet use and its effects on the healthcare professional-patient relationship
The use of Internet plays an increasingly important role on receiving health information. About 50% of the people who were able to access to the Internet in the US sought health information during 1997(Eng et al, 1998, as cited in Cline and Haynes,2001). The prevalence of searching health information from the internet by the patients has, without doubt, affected the healthcare professional-patient relationship in both good and bad ways. In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of patients’ internet use towards healthcare professional-patient relationship are examined and the future role of the healthcare professional is discussed.
Patients’ internet use benefits the healthcare professional-patient relationship due to the effective use of time. According to Gerber and Eliser (2001), when patients have already had the basic concept of the disease, physicians can move on to make the clinical decision with patients (as cited in Wald, Dube, Anthony, 2007). Thus, the limited appointment time will be able to cover the in-depth topic. Ayonride (1998) and Wilkins (1999) also suggest that consumers will get better-informed decisions and tailored treatment decisions (as cited in Cline and Haynes, 2001). Added to the effective use of time, enhancing interactivity is another advantage. When it comes to sensitive topics which patients feel embarrassed to tell in front of health professionals, the Internet can be the most suitable platform to deal with the problem as a certain degree of anonymity is provided. (Robinson at al., 1998, as cited in Cline and Haynes, 2001)Through the communication, patients’ awareness of their health is then increased (Laing, Hogg, Winklman, 2004, as cited in Wald, Dube, Anthony, 2007). The more patients are alert to the early-stage symptoms, the sooner they seek help. Gerber, Eliser (2001) mentioned that the relationship between
The use of Internet plays an increasingly important role on receiving health information. About 50% of the people who were able to access to the Internet in the US sought health information during 1997(Eng et al, 1998, as cited in Cline and Haynes,2001). The prevalence of searching health information from the internet by the patients has, without doubt, affected the healthcare professional-patient relationship in both good and bad ways. In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of patients’ internet use towards healthcare professional-patient relationship are examined and the future role of the healthcare professional is discussed.
Patients’ internet use benefits the healthcare professional-patient relationship due to the effective use of time. According to Gerber and Eliser (2001), when patients have already had the basic concept of the disease, physicians can move on to make the clinical decision with patients (as cited in Wald, Dube, Anthony, 2007). Thus, the limited appointment time will be able to cover the in-depth topic. Ayonride (1998) and Wilkins (1999) also suggest that consumers will get better-informed decisions and tailored treatment decisions (as cited in Cline and Haynes, 2001). Added to the effective use of time, enhancing interactivity is another advantage. When it comes to sensitive topics which patients feel embarrassed to tell in front of health professionals, the Internet can be the most suitable platform to deal with the problem as a certain degree of anonymity is provided. (Robinson at al., 1998, as cited in Cline and Haynes, 2001)Through the communication, patients’ awareness of their health is then increased (Laing, Hogg, Winklman, 2004, as cited in Wald, Dube, Anthony, 2007). The more patients are alert to the early-stage symptoms, the sooner they seek help. Gerber, Eliser (2001) mentioned that the relationship between
References: Cline,R.J.W. & Haynes,K.M. (2001). Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of art. Health Education Research, 16(6), 671-692 Erdem, S.A., Harrison-Walker, L.J. (2006). The role of the Internet in physician-patient relationships: The issue of trust. Business Horizons, 49, 387-393 Timmons, S. (2001). Use of the Internet by patients: not a threat to nursing, but an opportunity? Nurse Education Today, 21, 104-109 Wald, H.S., Dube, C.E., Anthony, D.C.(2007). Untangling the Web ─ The impact of Internet use on health care and the physician-patient relationship. Patient Education and Counseling, 68, 218-224