Patients using the Internet to obtain health information: How this affects the patient–health professional relationship
Abstract
Objective Health information is one of the most frequently sought topics on the Internet. A review of the literature was carried out to determine the use of the Internet for health information by the patient and how this could affect the patient-health professional relationship.Methods This study is a literature review, summarizing multiple empirical studies on a single subject and is not intended to be a meta-analysis.Results The review showed that the majority of health related Internet searches by patients are for specific medical conditions. They are carried out by the patient: (1) before the clinical encounter to seek information to manage their own healthcare independently and/or to decide whether they need professional help; (2) after the clinical encounter for reassurance or because of dissatisfaction with the amount of detailed information provided by the health professional during the encounter.Conclusion There has been a shift in the role of the patient from passive recipient to active consumer of health information. Health professionals are responding to the more 'Internet informed' patient in one or more of three ways: (1) the health professional feels threatened by the information the patient brings and responds defensively by asserting their 'expert opinion' (health professional-centred relationship). (2) The health professional and patient collaborate in obtaining and analysing the information (patient-centred relationship). (3) The health professional will guide patients to reliable health information websites (Internet prescription).Practice implications It is important that health professionals acknowledge patients' search for knowledge, that they discuss the information offered by patients and guide them to reliable and accurate health websites. It is recommended that courses, such as 'patient informatics' are integrated in health professionals' education.
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Previous research has demonstrated that physicians often lag behind their patients in their Internet usage and their knowledge of information technologies.
“Previous research has also demonstrated that physicians often lag behind their patients in their Internet usage [26,29] and their knowledge of information technologies [30].”
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- Authors
- McMullan, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Plymouth (GB)
- Corresponding author
- McMullan, Miriam
- Venue
- Patient Education and Counseling
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-10
- Volume
- 63
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 24-28
- ISSN
- 0738-3991 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2143607388
- Cited by
- 1,106
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 38 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 82 · 2021: 71 · 2020: 70 · 2019: 76 · 2018: 68 · 2017: 74 · 2016: 74 · 2015: 64 · 2014: 66 · 2013: 62 · 2012: 57
- FWCI
- 4.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Patient Education and Counseling (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Information Retrieval and Search Behavior
- Keywords
- online health information seeking, patient-centered care, patient empowerment, health information websites, patient-provider partnership
- MeSH terms
- Attitude of Health Personnel, Attitude to Computers, Communication, Humans, Information Services, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Patient Education as Topic, Patient Participation, Physician-Patient Relations, Physician's Role, Surveys and Questionnaires, Research Design, Self-Help Groups, Social Support, Internet, Electronic Mail
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