The latest statistics show that up to 81% of the American population is going to the internet to get information about their health.
Now, according to a survey of more than 300 doctors by Wolters Kluwer Health, doctors are seeking their information from the internet as well. Web browsers like Yahoo and Google are utilized as sources of information only secondary to professional journals and peers. The survey included a good representation of physicians across all specialties including primary care from the American Medical Association.
In response to the question “how do they get information for use in treating and diagnosing patients?”, 46% of doctors surveyed claimed that they sought information from web browsers, more than the 42% usage of conferences and events. This was compared with the 60% who went to colleagues for their advice and 68% who consulted professional buy ventolin in china journals.
While not everything posted on the internet is of value or accurate, presumably physicians can tell the difference. This was broached with doctors and asked whether improved access to medical knowledge by patients has a positive impact on the doctor-patient relationship: 53% said yes. About a fifth think it has “been detrimental, leading to misinformation and incorrect self-diagnosis,” the study found.
Responses by those questioned, indicated that expense is a big detriment to adopting electronic medical record systems or new IT in their practice. They also indicated that they would like to be able to spend more time with their patients- presumably live and not computer renditions!
Computers have changed all facets of our lives and the practice of medicine is no exception.
Are you getting your health information on line? Do you seek interpretation of this information by professional healthcare providers?
