JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

The Internet holds the promise of helping to lead to improved patient outcomes, especially when one is faced with a critical or life-threatening disease or condition. Appropriate and timely access to health information can support more informed negotiation of optimal treatments, optimal management and expedited recovery and ultimately an improved patient outcome. However, there are many human and technical barriers that may prevent or hinder the application of the best possible information for both patient and provider alike, making the patient journey complex and potentially dangerous. In this editorial the author reflects on a personal patient journey where use of the Internet facilitated a means to reach a good patient outcome in the face of a variety of informational and organizational limitations and gaps. The journey illustrates the importance of human related factors affecting access to health information. The application of a range of Internet information resources, applied at critical points can result in a positive patient outcome, as the case illustrates. This editorial reflects on how the experience highlights a number of information needs and concerns. It also highlights the need for improved access to appropriate health information along the patient journey that can support patient and provider joint decision making. This access to information can literally make the difference between positive clinical outcomes and death, illustrating how health information on the Internet can be both critical and life saving.