From physician’s authority to patient expertise: the effects of e-health technology use on patient’s behavior and physician-patient relationship

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to examine the health technology use in health information seeking, communication and personal health information management, as well as in the effects they may have on his relationship with the physician and on the consumption of medical resources. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was conducted. The questionnaires were distributed via online health discussion forums using Google's survey software with a summary presentation of the study’s objective. The final selection of 362 individuals was made using social media, direct email and collaboration with community groups. The empirical validation of the causal model was conducted using the partial least square approach. Findings The results show that the use of e-health strengthens the quality of the patient–physician relationship and patient empowerment while increasing the consumption of medical resources. Originality/value The results of this research indicate that the internet has transformed the relationship of patients to health, to their doctors and to the health-care system. In this new context, a reconsideration of the status of the patient must be considered by health service providers.

Ethical and Legal Aspects of Technology-Assisted Care in Neurodegenerative Disease

“…The increasing use of technological systems for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic decision making may also have an impact on the relationship between physician and patient [ 23 , 24 , 39 , 41 ]. They might strengthen that relationship by enabling the physician to devote more time to the individual patient both professionally and humanely [ 42 ], but they might also impair the relationship if physicians are reduced to “agents” and “translators” of recommendation systems and patients to “data subjects,” being regarded less as a person than as a “digital data stream” or exemplar of certain data characteristics. If undue deference to technological systems—“automation bias”—led to a loss of human and professional competence, this would not only increase the risk of incorrect medical decisions but also the risk of a fundamental loss of trust in the relationship between doctor and patient [ 23 ].…”