Abstract:

The Internet is growing in popularity as a source of healthcare information. This growth raises the question of whether the Internet will simply gain hold as a way of obtaining general, top-line health information of whether digital technology will actually serve to transform the way we deal with our doctor. That is, will the Internet serve as a way of helping us brush up on what we know before going to the doctors, or will it grow to become a vehicle for diagnosing illnesses, purchasing treatments and doing much of the work of the doctor. In response to this potential&new paradigm, New Media House, part of Citigate DVL Smith sponsored a programme of qualitative and quantitative research to explore the issues.