Use of the Internet as a resource of health information by patients: a clinic-based study in the Indian population.

BACKGROUND: There is abundant literature documenting that the Internet is fast changing the way patients access health-related information, learn about their illnesses, and make healthcare-related decisions. However, there is hardly any data regarding Indian patients accessing health-related information available on the Internet. AIMS: To determine patients' use of the Internet as a medical information resource and to determine their experience, their perceptions of the quality and reliability of the information available. SETTING: The study was carried out in the outpatient clinic of an urban, tertiary care private sector hospital in November 2004. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our survey instrument consisted of an anonymous single-page questionnaire. Eight hundred and eighty consecutive adults aged 18-70 years, attending the general outpatient clinic of a tertiary care private hospital completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-one (32%) patients acknowledged surfing the Internet, while 75% (212/281) of them acknowledged that they accessed health-related information. Amongst those who accessed the Internet, 130 (61%) found the information on the net to be of average quality. Almost all patients (211/212) felt that the information served the purpose and 95% (201/212) also found also found it to be reliable. Only 7% (21/281) patients were aware of the presence of any quality standards pertaining to health information sites and none could name any accreditation standard. CONCLUSIONS: One in four patients attending the private set-up is using the Internet for health information. A majority of patients find the information on the net reliable and of good quality. Awareness about health information quality standards is a rarity.

Pamidronate--a promising new candidate for the management of spondyloarthropathy.

Bisphosphonate group of agents are known for their anti-bone resorptive properties. However, recently their anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis properties have come to light. Clinical trials of their use in spondyloarthropathy are showing promising results, especially in patients with shorter disease duration. The adverse event profile is mainly limited to postinfusion arthralgia, myalgia and fever. The concept of pamidronate in spondyloarthropathy management should be evaluated further in light of these clinical studies and could have a major impact on our resource-restricted setting.

Health information on the internet: patient empowerment or patient deceit?

Internet is the biggest medical library in the world. It has transformed the way many health seekers find health information. Seekers on net have exponentially increased from 54 million in 1998 to 110 million in 2002 (U.S. figures) and are ever increasing. Act of looking for health or medical information is the third most popular activities online. Search engines are used by almost 81% of the e-patients to look for the information they want. Internet is fast becoming an influential force as more than 70% consumers say that the information on the net has influenced their treatment decisions. However, the reliability of all the health information available on the Internet is questionable. Numerous studies have indicated deficiencies in the quality of information on the Internet. Due to technical and commercial reasons, the results provided by various search engines can be potentially biased. Only about a quarter of health seekers thoroughly check the source, timeliness of information every time they search for health information. In fact, most adults from USA, Japan, France and Germany who participated in a recent survey thought online health care information to be trustworthy, of good quality, easy to understand and easy to find. Efforts are now being taken to ensure the quality of health information on the Internet. Patients need to be educated about the worthiness of a site and also be prescribed the right sites to be consulted for information.

Therapeutic options for systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis is a uncommon connective tissue disorder characterized by vascular damage, immune cell activation and fibrogenesis. Each of these components may respond to different therapies. Therefore, a combination strategy treating all three processes is more likely to control the disease than single agent therapy. Clinical trials have gone a long way towards defining the therapy of scleroderma and many drugs previously used for scleroderma have been critically assessed. Angiotensin blockade is effective in treating as well as preventing scleroderma renal crisis. The 9-year cumulative survival has improved from 38% to 68% after the introduction of angiotensin blockade. There is definitive evidence supporting the use of cyclophosphamide in systemic sclerosis associated alveolitis. Newer molecules aimed at various cytokines are being tried. The therapy for systemic sclerosis is far from perfect at present. But, individualization of the treatment with respect to stage and subset of disease as well as organ involvement can eventually result in rational, effective management.