15 Online Support and Health Care
The aim of this chapter is to consider the impact of the Internet and related technologies on health care, in terms of the availability of health‐related information, support and treatment. We begin by examining the types of people who are more likely to search for online health information and why they do so, as well as the potential negative impact of this on the individual, in the form of ‘cyberchondria’. Following this, we look at online forums as places of knowledge and support for those with health‐related issues. Use of the Internet for therapy has been around since the early days and so, importantly, we discuss online therapy (or e‐therapy) and evaluate its effectiveness. Finally, we present ...
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