Many of our patients search for health information on the Internet yearly. Whether health information is needed for personal reasons or for a loved one, our patients on a daily basis view health-related web pages. Information may be found easily or may result in frustration or retrieval of inaccurate, even precarious information. As nurses and allied professionals, we can guide our patients in the appropriate direction, thus facilitating the best possible outcome for our patients.

The electrophysiology arena will continue to experience astounding advances and changes in methods of treatment and care delivery processes. In order to deliver optimal care and have patients comply with our treatment protocol, we must empower our patients. An informed patient can work as a partner with us ensuring the delivery of optimal care.

An excellent resource guide to assist patients in becoming advocates for their own health has been devised by Dr. Kristie Leong. [1] We can inform our patients of the six steps in the process for web searching to ensure accurate medical information. They include the following: “Step 1: Don't use the web as a substitute for a doctor. Step 2: Look for government sponsored health sites. Step 3: Be aware of when the site was last updated. Step 4: Look for journal references. Step 5: Beware of sites trying to sell you something. Step 6: Use trusted medical sites.”

A few trusted web sites for our subset of patients include the Heart Rhythm Society, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and WebMD. A well-informed patient will be able to locate the information they need, determine what is trustworthy and credible, and identify inaccurate information.

Reference:
1. http://www.ehow.com/how_4526938_internet-medical-information-can-trust.html