Naslov
Internet and Medicine: Yesterday - Today - Tomorrow

Autori
Deželić, Gjuro

Izvornik
Acta informatica Medica (0353-8109) 13 (2005), 4; 211-217

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, pregledni rad, stručni

Ključne riječi
Cybermedicine ; Internet ; Telemedicine ; Web

Sažetak
Internet is one of information technologies marking the transition from the second to third millennium. The present role and expansion of Internet in medicine and healthcare is reviewed together with the perspective of further development. The beginning and initial expansion of the use of Internet in medicine is described. The World Wide Web (WWW or Web) is recognized as a major reason for this expansion, reaching a state described as a Web-pandemic. The rapid increase of the number of papers dealing with Internet in medical literature is presented as well as the appearance of several journals dedicated to Internet in medicine. Specialized symposia, among them MEDNET world conferences, are noted. First uses of Internet in medicine comprised databases, discussion groups, electronic newsletters, software archives and online public access catalogues. The appearance of the Web led to a significant improvement of the Internet use in medicine, which is reflected in an exponential increase of the number of publications. It is noted that Internet allows "to do old things in new ways", but also "to do new things". It became clear that the information revolution evoked by the Internet shall leave a deep trace in medicine, as health information became accessible to the public and ceased to be in exclusive control of health professionals. New medical fields - telemedicine and cybermedicine - appeared as a result of the development and global expansion of information and communication technologies, with cybermedicine dealing more specifically with the use of Internet. The advantages and disadvantages of cybermedicine are discussed, and major problems arise in connection with the quality of health information. Several systems for quality criteria of health related Web sites are described, and the Web sites have to conform with quality criteria such as transparency and honesty, accountability, privacy and data protection, currency, accountability and accessibility. A review of the development of the use of Internet in medicine in Croatia is given. Worldwide it is more and more recognized that the Internet is capable to create the conditions for a partnership between patients and clinicians. In the concluding remarks the reasons are given for a sooner access to the Internet and its everyday use in healthcare activity.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

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