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Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2003) 9: 387-396
© 2003 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Emerging challenges in using health information from the internet

Louise Theodosiou and Jonathan Green

Louise Theodosiou is a specialist registrar in child and adolescent psychiatry on the Manchester rotation (Gardener Unit, Prestwich Hospital, Prestwich, Manchester M25 3BL, UK. E-mail: ltheodosiou{at}doctors.org.uk). Her main clinical interests are forensic psychiatry and the development of transition services for adolescents. She is increasingly interested in how the general public uses the internet as a forum for support and communication on health issues. Jonathan Green is a senior lecturer in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Manchester and an honorary consultant for Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s Hospitals University NHS Trust. His main clinical and research interests are in the effectiveness and organisation of in-patient services, and social development and psychopathology, including pervasive developmental and attachment disorders.

In 2000, about 350 million adults used the internet and people increasingly take articles from websites to medical appointments. The quality and safety of websites vary widely and some users are reluctant to access mainstream sites. People are vulnerable to misinformation and exploitation: there is evidence that online purchases have caused morbidity and mortality. This paper reviews the current evidence on the dissemination of health information on the internet and the various strategies that are developing to assess and screen site quality. Such strategies include ‘quality assurance’ marking, specially designed search engines, and operational criteria for individuals to apply to sites. It also discusses the medical community’s roles and responsibilities in relation to this burgeoning area.




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