McMullan Miriam
University of Plymouth, Faculty of Health and Social Work, School of Health Professions, Peninsula Allied Health Centre, Derriford Road, Plymouth PL6 9BH, UK.
Patient Educ Couns. 2006 Oct;63(1-2):24-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2005.10.006. Epub 2006 Jan 6.
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.
This study is a literature review, summarizing multiple empirical studies on a single subject and is not intended to be a meta-analysis.
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.
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).
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.
健康信息是互联网上最常被搜索的主题之一。开展了一项文献综述，以确定患者对互联网健康信息的使用情况以及这如何影响患者与健康专业人员之间的关系。
本研究是一项文献综述，总结了关于单个主题的多项实证研究，并非旨在进行荟萃分析。
综述表明，患者进行的大多数与健康相关的互联网搜索是针对特定疾病状况。这些搜索由患者在以下情况下进行：(1) 在临床就诊前，以寻求信息来独立管理自身医疗保健和/或决定是否需要专业帮助；(2) 在临床就诊后，为了安心或因对健康专业人员在就诊期间提供的详细信息量不满意。
患者的角色已从健康信息的被动接受者转变为主动消费者。健康专业人员正通过以下三种方式中的一种或多种来应对信息更灵通的患者：(1) 健康专业人员因患者带来的信息而感到受到威胁，并通过坚持其“专家意见”做出防御性回应（以健康专业人员为中心的关系）。(2) 健康专业人员和患者合作获取和分析信息（以患者为中心的关系）。(3) 健康专业人员将引导患者访问可靠的健康信息网站（互联网处方）。
健康专业人员认识到患者对知识的搜索、讨论患者提供的信息并引导他们访问可靠且准确的健康网站非常重要。建议将“患者信息学”等课程纳入健康专业人员的教育中。
