The Impact of the Internet on Consumers Health Behaviour

I have just read this excellent document concerning the use of Internet to modify health behaviors. The report, titled The Impact of the Internet on Consumers Health Behaviour, was produced by the National Institute of Clinical Studies, based at the University of Queensland, in Melbourne, in February 2003.

The document aims to answer the 5 following questions :

1. What web-site interventions are effective in changing disease prevention behaviour or measurable health outcomes?


2. Does the Internet change the interaction between consumers and health professionals?


3. Does usage of the Iternet by consumers change their understanding of disease?


4. Does usage of the Internet by consumers change their self management of disease?


5. Does usage of the Internet increase consumer enablement?

Among the key messages listed in the document, we find the following most interesting comments :

• There have been few high quality studies that have assessed the effectiveness of heath care intervention delivered over the Internet, and it can be difficult to distinguish between the effectiveness of the intervention and the influence of the medium.


• Several interventions that have been shown to be effective through other media, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and decision aids, have been effectively provided via the Internet. Even in lower intensity interventions, there is some evidence of effectiveness to improve health outcomes.


• The quality of an Internet intervention is dependant on both the quality of the content and the quality of the use of the medium as a means of communication.

The list of references includes some important articles that are related to the treatment of obesity or diabetes :

• Harvey-Berino, J. (1998). Changing health behavior via telecommunications technology : Using interactive television to treat obesity. Behavior Therapy, 20 (3) : 505-519.


• Harvey-Berino, J., Pintauro, S. & al. (2002). Does using the Internet facilitate the maintenance of weight loss? International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 26 (9) : 1254-1260.


• McKay, H. G., King, D. & al. (2001). The diabetes network Internet-based physical activity intervention : a randomized pilot study. Diabetes Care, 24 (8) : 1328-1334.


• Tate, D., Wing, R. R. & al. (2001). Using Internet technology to deliver a behavioral weight loss program. Journal of the American medical Association, 285 (9) : 1172-1177.