eHealth as a challenge to 'expert' power: a focus group study of internet use for health information and management.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate current use of the internet and eHealth amongst adults.


METHODS
Focus groups were conducted to explore participants' attitudes to and reasons for health internet use.


METHODS
The focus group data were analysed and interpreted using thematic analysis.


RESULTS
Three superordinate themes exploring eHealth behaviours were identified: decline in expert authority, pervasiveness of health information on the internet and empowerment. Results showed participants enjoyed the immediate benefits of eHealth information and felt empowered by increased knowledge, but they would be reluctant to lose face-to-face consultations with their GP.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings illustrate changes in patient identity and a decline in expert authority with ramifications for the practitioner-patient relationship and subsequent implications for health management more generally.
School of Life & Health Sciences, Aston University Birmingham, UK. donnells@aston.ac.uk
Louise S
LS
Donnelly
Rachel L
RL
Shaw
Olga B A
OB
van den Akker
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000592:standards*; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations