178. THE DEGREE TO WHICH HEALTH SERVICES
FOR INDIVIDUALS AND POPULATIONS
INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF DESIRED
HEALTH OUTCOMES AND ARE CONSISTENT
WITH CURRENT PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE
294. e-Patients represent the new breed of informed health
consumers, using the Internet to gather information
about a medical condition of particular interest to them.
295. The term encompasses both those who seek online
guidance for their own ailments and the friends and
family members who go online on their behalf.
296. e-Patients report two effects of their online health
research—better health information and services, and
different (but not always better) relationships with their
doctors.