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How Does the Internet Influence the Doctor–Patient Relationship?

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e-Mental Health

Abstract

In this chapter, we consider the doctor–patient relationship as classically described. We then consider the impact of the Internet on the doctor–patient relationship in two ways. One way is the consequence of the use of the Internet for videoconferencing; the other is the availability of medical information on the Internet in various forms, so that patients are able to easily access information before or after the consultation, while various Websites may even be recommended during the consultation itself. The doctor–patient relationship continues to be central to the practice of medicine; however, the Internet influences it in a number of ways, and it is important that clinicians are aware of these so as to optimise the help given to the patient.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge and Clare College Cambridge, University Foundation Trust, Wickford, Essex, UK

    Mark Agius

  2. Third Medical Faculty, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    Helen Stangeland

Authors
  1. Mark Agius
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  2. Helen Stangeland
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Correspondence to Mark Agius .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Little Prince Psychiatric Centre, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Davor Mucic

  2. Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Donald M. Hilty

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Agius, M., Stangeland, H. (2016). How Does the Internet Influence the Doctor–Patient Relationship?. In: Mucic, D., Hilty, D. (eds) e-Mental Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20852-7_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20852-7_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-20851-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-20852-7

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