The Internet provides help, confusion for patients
Patient Safety Monitor Alert
September 1, 2005
Patients are increasingly turning to the Internet for healthcare information. That sometimes can have very positive results, such as when a patient found a medical study to treat his advanced form of cancer. Other times, it can confuse patients or sell them on remedies that aren't well-suited for their conditions, according to an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune.About 80% of adults who use the Internet have searched for medical information, according to a Pew poll cited in the article. Of those, nearly 40% said they had a hard time discerning whether the information they found was useful.
Drug manufacturers particularly have appealing Web sites that can convince patients they need a particular brand of medication. Physicians sometimes find resistance from patients who have found such drugs online.
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