Health and the Internet

I recently booked a holiday to a country where health precautions must be considered. After entering my credit card details to guarantee two weeks of exotic Thai food and cheap handbags I immediately opened a new Safari window to reap advice from multiple health practitioners.

This led me to consider how new media has changed the way humanity send and receive medical information. According to Bennett (2009), the delivery of public health interventions is dramatically increasing online. This is particularly evident amid citizens facing significant barriers accessing health advice through traditional methods (Bundorf 2006).

Caption: Pink Stethoscope on Keyboard
Creator: Phil Morley
Source: http://cutcaster.com/photo/800895485-pink-stethoscope-on-keyboard/

Furthermore, Morton (2011) confirmed that this media channel facilitates the expansion of medical knowledge. From my experience I can appreciate that the riveting thrill of instantly researching health and wellbeing on ones own accord is empowering and this is what feeds the growth of health information online. 

In agreement with Lewis (2006), online access guided the shift from governmental and social responsibility to a more personal accountability. Today, individuals are reliable for their own health improvement and management in the privacy of their own homes.

However Bielenberg (2011) raised the issue of online credibility. Like me, individuals may fail to consider the possibility of misleading information within online research. Thus, I argue that relevant health information online should be regarded in addition to non-virtual general practitioner advice, not as a supplement.

References

Bennett, Gary and Russell E. Glasgow. 2009. “The Delivery of Public Health Interventions via the Internet: Actualizing their Potential.” Annual Review of Public Health 30 (1): 273-292.

Bielenberg, David. 2011. "Week 6 Entry." KCB206 Blog - Ramblings on New Media, April 10. Accessed April 10, 2011. http://n6333869.blogspot.com/2011/04/week-6-entry.html 

Bundorf, Kate M., Todd H. Wagner, Sara J. Singer, Laurence C. Baker. 2006. “Who Searches the Internet for Health Information?” Health Services Research 41 (3): 819-836.

Lewis, Tania. 2006. “Seeking health information on the internet: lifestyle choice or bad attack of cyberchondria?” Media, Culture & Society 28 (4): 521-539. 

Morton, Jai. 2011. “A Healthy Alternative.” New Media Native Blog, April 9. Accessed April 10, 2011. http://jailouisemedia.blogspot.com/2011/04/healthy-alternative.html