Information Access: Information Overload

A medical doctor who had been in practice over 25 years found out that his son was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease about which he knew almost nothing. All of his colleagues in the major medical center where he practiced had little information to offer him. An Internet search provided him and his wife with articles and information that were relevant to their son’s disease. It gave them a level of comfort and a lot of information. On the Internet, this doctor identified treatment options that he was able to evaluate. He found discussion groups where he, his wife, and their son could interact with individuals and families facing similar problems. Their son’s physician agreed that the information they were unearthing on the Internet was meaningful and helped to map out an overall treatment plan.

The Internet has found its way into healthcare. Built as a tool that scientists could use to facilitate communication with other scientists throughout the world, commercial interests quickly moved in to use the Internet for their business advantage. They put together an infrastructure and they called it the World Wide Web. Soon people everywhere were engaged – some to find information; some to give information; some to interact, to sell, to play, to shop, to lobby, to entertain and be entertained. Web resources enable people to be more informed, more in touch, and more involved with decisions that affect their life. In a health crisis, individuals turn to the Web for accurate facts and constructive advice that could save their life. However, sifting through the great mass of information on the Web is not easy.