Friend or foe? Consumers using the Internet for medical information

Use of the Internet to access health and medical information has grown significantly in the past several years and is projected to increase among physicians alone by 25% to 43% in the next year. Three obstacles face individuals searching for medical information on the Web-accessing the desired information, assessing the quality of the information found, and applying the information in the person's life. This article provides guidance on overcoming each of these obstacles.