Palliative care nursing in the virtual realm.

摘要

Technology has affected health-care delivery in many ways. Both the internet and consumer empowerment have evolved (Lober and Flowers, 2011), and the health-care environment is attempting to keep pace with these rapid changes. In Canada, 70% of home internet users search for medical or health-related information online (Statistics Canada, 2009). In the USA, 80% of internet users seek out health information, with 7% looking specifically for information about end-of-life decisions (Pew Research Center, 2011). In their search for knowledge, the general public and health professionals require trustworthy, relevant, and easily understood information that is based on research and empowers them as health-care consumers and providers.