Health Information – where do patients obtain it and why does it matter?

This is the title of the most recent issue of RESEARCH ROUNDup from the Primary Health Care Research and Information Service (PHCRIS).

While GPs remain the most frequent health information source for Australians, people are increasingly exposed to health information from sources such as the Internet and television. The quality and accuracy of that information can have a major impact on patient awareness and compliance, and affect delivery and access to effective health care.

"Health information: where do patients obtain it and why does it matter?" is a brief summary of recent reports about the ways in which Australians obtain health information and the quality of that information.  It also looks at the responsibility of GPs in regard to that information.