Factors driving the increase in medical information on the web--one American perspective.

Abstract

From the perspective of an academic medical community in the United States, factors driving the increase in medical information on the Internet are examined. These factors are considered in two categories: those that create a demand for information, and those which respond to that demand or attempt to increase or profit by it. The factors explored include demographic, economic, and technological conditions on both sides of the information marketplace. The paper also addresses the responsibilities shared by providers of this information, and possible strategies to assure high-quality resources and informed use of them, both by health care professionals and by patients. The value of informed use is perhaps best conveyed with the following quote.