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Advancements in information and communication technolo-
gies (ICTs) including Internet have accelerated the search for
health-related information and become a common practice
worldwide. It has brought a change in people’s lifestyle and
has a greater impact compared to any other communication
tools. A study by Alghamdi and Moussa (2011) noted that,
a majority of people rely on Internet to search for health infor-
mation, social, business, and other information available
online. The evolution of Internet and its utilization has
improved access and retrieval of health information. Alghamdi
and Moussa (2011) observed that patients used various sources
of information such as newspapers, books, and colleagues to
search for health information in previous days. Modern search
engines and platforms (e.g., social networks, websites, portals,
health databases) have made health information easily acces-
sible using various devices such as smart phones, tablets,
laptops, and computers (Hong et al., 2015). Health informa-
tion is now available at fingertips.
The Internet is a powerful tool for empowering patients in
making decision on health-related matters, and it facilitates
patients to communicate easily in health-care services. It is
also observed that limited patient communication is associ-
ated with poor patient health outcomes and low patient
satisfaction. However, Internet is viewed as a medium for
patient empowerment; although some websites are not rated
as trustworthy or validated (Beck et al., 2014). The public
health impact of the Internet is wide reaching, affecting
many aspects of people’s social lives and practice. For
example, university students used the Internet to search for
health information on various aspects especially on specific
illness, fitness, and nutrition compared to other online users.
In higher learning institutions and health-care centers,
Internet has been a crucial tool in exchanging information
using various online platforms such as social media tools
(e-mails and other interactive tools). Telemedicine and video
conferencing are useful tools in transferring information
from one part to another (e.g., in facilitating hospital
communication) in relation to clinical aspects such as
medical diagnosis, treatment, transferring of data, and moni-
toring patients’ health-care delivery services.
This article focuses on the use of Internet for public health,
and it covers the following subtopics: accessibility, quality,
prospects, efficacy, and challenges of accessing health informa-
tion on the Internet. |
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