Why Self-Diagnosing on the Internet Can Be Dangerous and When to See a Real Doctor
The Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) shows that the Internet is a major source of health information, which can impact patient-physician communication in both positive and negative ways. Factors such as the demographics of online users, their motivations, the websites they visit, their information needs, and how they discuss findings with doctors all play a role. This article examines the effects of online health information.