Health Information Seeking and Implications for the Operative Dentist

The steady increase in online health information seeking by patients is ingrained in central notions of patient-centered care and shared decision-making models reflected in operative dentistry and the healthcare industry at large. More patients today seek health information prior to an appointment, communicate their findings with their providers, and expect two-way communication exchanges. This e-consumer trend has many implications for operative dentistry, for which surgery, by its very nature, lends to a confluence of questioning and informational needs. Operative dentists must acknowledge patient information and be prepared to address the breadth of information brought to them. The purpose of this literature review is threefold: 1) to provide the operative dentist with information about the demographics, psychology, and behavior of today's e-health patient; 2) to provide a review of the benefits and challenges of communicating with e-health patients; and 3) to provide recommendations for communicating with e-patients interpersonally and through Internet communication. In so doing, it is hoped that discussion can provide insight useful for improving provider/patient relationships in the progressive communication era.