A large US study on the role of Internet-based technology conducted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, and Microsoft Corporation has found that 93 percent of patients with multiple sclerosis surveyed used the Internet, compared with 75 percent of the general population.

The survey results, which were published  in a recent issue of the International Journal of MS Care by Lucy Wardell, N, MSc(A), MSCN and colleagues from the MS Clinic, Montreal Neurological Hospital and Nursing Research, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,  also showed that 70 percent of patients with MS expressed interest in keeping up with the latest online technology, and nearly half reported that the Internet played a key role in helping them live with their disease.

Some researchers and healthcare professionals are optimistic that, given their considerable reliance on online technology for health information, patients with MS would be an appropriate target group to test an innovative method of communication with healthcare providers.

 ”When used in combination with traditional modalities, online patient protals could ultimately improve the quality of MS patient care by enhancing patient-provider communications and empowering patients with chronic  illness to more effectively self-manage their disease. Another potential benefit is cost savings for patients as well as healthcare providers from decreasing unwarranted visits to practitioners while maintaining in-person consultations when indicated,” the authors conclude.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 11:41 am and is filed under All Articles, Studies, Techguide Newsticker, United Homepage. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.