Brain-themed self-help and the healthcare provider in the United States.

Abstract

People commonly use the Internet to search for health information and tend to use the information they find without regard to source or credibility. Although regulation plays some role in minimizing false claims made by manufacturers of self-help products, effective communication with health professionals likely offers greater protection to the patient or consumer accessing self-help materials. In order to best serve patients (or healthcare consumers), providers should educate them about their healthcare needs, inquire about self-help product use, understand appropriate use, discuss the risks and benefits of use, monitor the patients' condition during use, and document these conversations. Although some people fear that patient use of brain-themed self-help will undermine the doctor-patient relationship, it is more likely to open another avenue of communication if providers are knowledgeable about self-help products. Given the rise in importance of the Internet as a source of information for people, opting out of these discussions is realistically not an option.