Using the Internet for patient education

The Internet, especially the World Wide Web, has a wealth of health-related information easily accessible to patients and families. Commercial health-related Internet sites offer the "3 C's: content, commerce, and connectivity. Many are quickly adding the 4th "C": communication. A growing concern among health care professionals is the quality and the seemingly overabundance of patient education information available on the Internet. Certainly it is possible for nurses to use the Internet for patient education, but new skills and knowledge are needed by nurses who incorporate this technology into their practice. This article will briefly review the evolution of patient education on the Internet, provide a brief review of the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Patient and Family Education Standards, and offer guidelines for nurses who choose to enhance their patient education efforts by using resources readily available on the Internet.