Someone outside that unit of crisis can sometimes be the most helpful in terms of finding information. Jana Allcock is a consumer health coordinator for the southeast branch National Network of Libraries of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health. Allcock said that since its launch in October 1998, the number of searches on Medline Plus has risen from 116,000 a month to more than 2 million. On the plus side, Allcock said, the Internet has empowered patients looking into treatment. This is particularly important in an age of managed care, when patients worry that medical decisions may be compromised by financial considerations.
People have to go out and find the best treatment.
For the most part, people use the Web to find out about a specific disease. They also research drugs to find out about side effects and dosage, Allcock said. In addition, patients use the Web to learn what to expect during tests - and what the normal values of test results are. They can also learn what to expect during a procedure or course of treatment, alleviating concerns ahead of time. Experts suggest that consumers start at a known site or health portal instead of using a broad search engine that will return too much information.