Is the Internet good for educating patients about their illness? Of course!
However a recent review in the Cochrane Collaboration throws up some inconvenient and potentially disturbing findings.
The findings are that net info is good for knowledge and social support neutral on self-efficacy and behavioural outcomes but may have a negative effect on clinical outcomes.
An obvious area for future research
http://www.cochrane.org/cochrane/revabstr/AB004274.htm
http://www.cochrane.org/newslett/Cons_Comm_Sep_2004.pdf
Cheers
Vicki