title: Brief report: What types of Internet guidance do patients want from their physicians?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand what patients expect from physicians regarding information seeking on the Internet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Waiting rooms of 4 community-based primary care offices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 494 patients invited to participate, 330 completed the survey for a response rate of 67%. Of 177 respondents who used the Internet for health information, only 15% agreed that physicians should ask them about their Internet searches. Most (62%) agreed that physicians should recommend specific web sites where patients can learn more about their health care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary care physicians should recognize that many patients would like guidance as they turn to the Internet for medical information. Physicians can utilize quality assessment tools and existing resources that facilitate referring patients to authoritative, commercial-free, patient-oriented medical information on the Internet.
authors.affiliation: Brown University Center for Primary Care and Prevention/Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI 02806, USA. Joseph_Diaz@brown.edu
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Christophern N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Sciamanna
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Evangelou
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stamp
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations