By Dr. John Frank, M.D. | IAHRS, ABHRS,ISHRS, AHLA, XM Radio: ‘The Bald Truth’, NYC, July 12, 2012
The Potential Value of Online Medical Information
The rapid rise & reach of internet-based technologies has put an unprecedented amount of medical information at our fingertips. Add to this the accelerating growth of human knowledge in all areas of medical science and we now live in a world where potential patients can play an intensely active role in their own healthcare. As a consequence, over 80% of doctors now feel that the medical information available online to patients has forced the doctors themselves to become more informed1(Tweet This!).
The Challenge of Finding Accurate Medical Information
Unfortunately, except for certain health claims banned by the FDA, there is no regulation of the internet; when it comes to finding quality medical information, online consumers must fend for themselves while putting themselves at risk of inadvertently picking up misinformation that can potentially do them harm, especially in the case of a serious illness2.
The hair loss sufferer, in particular, has an acute challenge in both finding accurate information and keeping up with new developments. This is because they must filter out an enormous amount of web spam to get at accurate medical information and because they want to keep up with new knowledge about hair loss and hair loss treatments — science, specifically genetic engineering, and advanced hair transplant technologies has rapidly revolutionized hair loss treatments, especially surgical hair restoration techniques and procedures.
Our Blog: Advanced Hair Loss Causes & Treatment Research & News
We’ve designed the contents of this blog to provide hair loss sufferers and potential surgical hair transplant patients with not only accurate medical information about hair loss causes & treatments but also to provide up-to-date information on the state of surgical hair restoration & hair loss treatments as reported in current peer-reviewed research. Finally, much of the content of this blog comes in the form of answers to questions asked by real hair loss sufferers.
While we’ve made this information as accurate and up-to-date as possible, the information on our site and in our blog should not substitute for the advice of your physician or hair loss specialist. You should not use the information on our site for diagnosing or treating any health problem or disease. Always contact your personal doctor with any specific questions and concerns.
Site Funding
All Financial Support for the information in our “A patient guide to hair loss treatment & hair restoration” blog, and other informational articles and videos on the John Frank MD Hair Clinic site, comes from the John Frank MD Hair Clinic. No funding is received from advertising.
References
1. Development of the internet changes relationship between doctors and patients. News-Medical.Net, June 27, 2012
2. Credibility Assessments of Online Health Information: The Effects of Source Expertise and Knowledge of Content. Eastin, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 6 (4) July 2001.
Last Updated: July 12, 2012.
