In addition to quality, both physicians and patients need to consider the readability of patient-related information on the Internet. In a recent study, Graber et al. On average, the patient information required a 10th grade reading level. This is considerably higher than the average lay reading level in the United States. Thus, even when the information is current and correct, it may be unavailable to the average patient.
Several observations suggest that the Web does render a potentially important service.
First, the Web provides a relatively cheap and easy way to access huge repositories of information. In chronic disease management, it is assumed that well-informed patients are better equipped to participate in their own disease management. Thus, the Web provides a useful vehicle for patient education. Second, patients clearly perceive a need for more information on medical problems. Clearly there is an unmet need for medical information, and patients are using the Internet, in part, to meet this need.