"Bad" literacy, the internet, and the limits of patient empowerment

Peter J. Schulz, Kent Nakamoto

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

The growth of health literacy and patient empowerment movements has resulted in a more active and prominent role for patients as autonomous actors in decisions relating to their health. The Internet has become an important source of information for patients seeking to understand their health conditions and to evaluate possible treatments. However, in making autonomous healthcare decisions, the Internet can be viewed by patients as a decision support system. The Internet is poorly adapted to this task and may lead patients to make hasty, ill-informed, and even dangerous health choices. It is important, therefore, to guide patients to approach the Internet with appropriate skepticism and to temper their perceptions of autonomy.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationArtificial Intelligence and Health Communication - Papers from the AAAI Spring Symposium, Technical Report
PublisherAI Access Foundation
Pages65-69
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)9781577354932
StatePublished - 2011
Event2011 AAAI Spring Symposium - Stanford, United States
Duration: 21 Mar 201123 Mar 2011

Publication series

NameAAAI Spring Symposium - Technical Report
VolumeSS-11-01

Conference

Conference2011 AAAI Spring Symposium
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityStanford
Period21/03/1123/03/11

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