title: Internet use by patients--a shift in power?
abstract: Traditionally, the patient has relied on health care professionals for advice and knowledge. The unprecedented access to information offered by the Internet may challenge this relationship. To investigate this, a questionnaire was sent to 640 transplant patients. 24 responded positively and were interviewed to see if the information they found on the net had been useful, in negotiating a change in treatment or as support. Internet use was associated with younger males who had access to the net at work. 22 had found useful information although only 1 patient had negotiated a change in treatment as a result. As the Internet becomes universally available, patients will be empowered to have a larger role in maintaining their health, and support groups will be better able to help patients. To prepare to deal with this avalanche of information we need to develop a system of accreditation of Internet sites, to create our own sites and to collaborate with patient support groups.
authors.affiliation: Transplant Unit, St Bartholomew Hospital, England.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trevitt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smitherman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D010358:Patient Participation; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D014481:United States