[Self-help and consultation via Internet. Self-responsible users redefine the physician-patient relationship]

Using e-health portals to the internet seeking information about one's illness and to exchange experience with other sick persons can result in more self-responsible patients and in a more partnership-based physician-patient relationship. Especially with serious and chronic diseases like cancer, HIV infection, eating disorders, and depression, concerned patients may find support by accessing web pages and by using internet communication like message boards, mailing lists, and chat rooms. In an online questionnaire, internet users with eating disorders stated that they felt understood by their internet peers and, therefore, were encouraged to start therapy. Physicians may fear their advance in knowledge to decrease, resulting in an overprotective attitude to the informed patient. Nevertheless, they will recognize, by active participation, that the medical internet may promote an earlier start of expert-guided therapy, improved compliance, aftercare, and basic care independent of place and time. However, further evaluation of internet-supported treatment is required.