Dr. Google will see you now: But will he make you sick?

Abstract

Advances in technology have empowered patients to seek health information and to self-diagnose online. They do so, increasingly. Instead of shying away from patients' online-gained health information, clinicians can use it to fuel discussion, answer their questions, and, thereby, reinforce the all-important doctor-patient therapeutic alliance. Through patient-centered communication, clinicians can increase patient trust and generate better health outcomes.