Internet : un facteur de transformation de la relation médecin-patient ?

• Main Author: Christine Thoër
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Université du Québec à Montréal 2013-12-01
• Series: Communiquer
• Subjects: internet; doctor-patient relationship; expertise; health care
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/communiquer/506

The Internet is increasingly used to search for health information by patients and physicians. The objective of this article, which is based on a review of the scientific literature, is to understand how the use of the internet in health care is remodeling the physician-patient relationship. We present the main theoretical models of the doctor-patient relationship then examine 1) how patient participation within the medical encounter is changing, 2) how doctors respond to these informed-patients and use the internet within their clinical practice, and 3) how this affects the doctor-patient relationship. Our analysis indicates that mediation of health information and the role performed by physicians are changing in a context where clinical expertise is framed, where health care is being increasingly considered a commodity and where both patients and doctors focus on health risk prevention.