Should you trust health advice from internet forums? - Times Online

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According to Dr Murray, a GP and a researcher at University College London's Primary Care and Health Unit, doctors can deliver the clinical details of a condition, but they sometimes struggle to understand the emotional and social implications. This is where patient websites come into play, and she believes they hold a vital role. “It is a real human need to discuss experiences and put these in the context of other people's experience. Research shows that people really like to know what their illness has meant to other sufferers on an emotional, social and practical level.”

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5154795.ece