For info- sounds an interesting idea.

Fiona

-----Original Message-----
From: Eysenbach, Gunther
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 28 June 2001 13:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Database of Adverse Events Related to the Internet


(please redistribute)


Database of Adverse Events Related to the Internet
--------------------------------------------------

Much has been written, commented and speculated about the variable
information quality of information found on the Internet and the presumed
impact of the Internet on patients. Other issues discussed in the medical
community include the assumed harmful effects of Internet prescribing of Rx
drugs or medical consulting in the absence of a pre-existing face-to-face
patient-physician relationship, the negative impact of pornographic (and
other "adult") material on minors, the addictive potential of the Internet,
or the potential of the Internet to promote suicide.

However, very little evidence is available on how well founded these
concerns are.

The "Database of Adverse Events Related to the Internet (DAERI)"
(http://www.medcertain.org/daeri/), a project initiated by the Dept. of
Clinical Social Medicine, Unit for Cybermedicine & E-health at the
University of Heidelberg, is a first attempt to systematically collect the
"evidence" in form of case studies on possible harm caused by the Internet.

By putting up this database we are *not* implying that the Internet is
harmful to patients or the patient-physician relationship - on the contrary,
we think that the positive effects on consumer health may well outweigh the
negative effects. However, as researchers, we think it is our duty to
collect and assess the evidence, and then to reach conclusions. We need
qualitative data in order to suggest measures which may minimize the risks
involved in using the Internet by consumers for health information. We also
need this data to suggest and conduct systematic and experimental studies
investigating possible problems related to the Internet in detail and to
quantify (investigate the prevalence) of possible problems.

We hope that the database will be filled by case studies from physicians
about patients who have been "harmed" by Internet information or services.

Case studies may include:

- Case descriptions of patients who have been harmed (psychologically or
physically) by misinformation on the Internet
- Patients who have misinterpreted information on the Internet
- Seeing a physician too late because of Internet research or Internet
diagnosis
- Patients who misdiagnosed themselves or received a wrong diagnosis on the
Internet
- Patients who consulted their physicians recurrently or needlessly due to
Internet-searches ("Cyberhypochondria")
- Patients who ordered drugs or products, which have been harmful for their
health
- Patients who attempted or committed suicide due to the visit of websites
or newsgroups containing suicide instructions

etc.

To submit a case, fill in the brief questionnaire at
http://www.medcertain.org/daeri/. All data must be anonymized /
pseudonymized and patient names must be stripped / blackened from all
documents.

As a small honorarium we will pay 50 Euro/US$ per documented case to the
submitting physician or healthcare professional.

General feedback about this project or thoughts about possible collaboration
are also welcome.

Best wishes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
| Gunther Eysenbach MD
|
| University of Heidelberg, Germany
|
| Dept. of Clinical Social Medicine
|
|  (Epidemiology, Public Health, Preventive Medicine, Health Systems
Research) |
| Head, Research Unit on Cybermedicine
|
| Bergheimer Str. 58, 69115 Heidelberg
|
| Ph. ++49-6221-56 88 97, ++49-172-82 49 0 86
|
| Fax ++49-6221-56 55 84
|
| http://yi.com/ey/
|
|
| Email: [log in to unmask]
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----



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