The Impact of CyberHealthcare on the Physician–Patient Relationship

Authors: Anderson J.G.¹; Rainey M.R.²; Eysenbach G.³

Source: Journal of Medical Systems, Volume 27, Number 1, February 2003 , pp. 67-84(18)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

It is estimated that 70 million Americans have used the Internet to acquire health-related information. Multiple factors provide the driving force behind this demand for online health information. Information technology is beginning to change the exclusive focus of medicine from curing disease to prevention of disease and enhancing health status. A critical feature of this change is the development of information and services that assist consumers to assume more responsibility for their own health and to actively participate in health care decisions. At the same time, physicians remain skeptical about the advantages of using the Internet for patient education. Some of the issues that this paper addresses include the following: What are the major factors that are leading to the increased use of the Internet by consumers to obtain health-related information? How do physicians view the use of the Internet by patients to obtain health-related information and services? How is the use of the Internet by consumers affecting physician–patient communications? What are the implications of the Internet for the future of physician–patient relationships?

Keywords: information technology; physician-patient relationship; use of the Internet; physician-patient e-mail

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907; andersonj@sri.soc.purdue.edu 2: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 3: Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Toronto General Hospital, Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4 Canada; ey@yi.com

Publication date: 2003-02-01

• In this: publication
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• In this Subject: Medical Informatics
• By this author: Anderson J.G. ;  Rainey M.R. ;  Eysenbach G.

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