Online and Virtual Health Information Use, Health Empowerment and Health Risks

Access to virtual health information is associated with improved knowledge about health issues. In this commentary, we present the challenges associated with the use of the virtual sources of information including eHealth and mHealth for health purposes. We analyze the difficulties caused by a set of individual-level constraints - lack of technology skills, chronic condition, and a distinction between lifestyle and healthcare goals that prevent the effective use of eHealth and mHealth sources. We propose that institutional level efforts encouraging the use of virtual health sources toward increased health empowerment and selfmanagement practices should account for these individual-level constraints. By doing so, institutional health-care providers will be more likely to increase the quality in the delivery of health services and health programs, improve the likelihood of effective self-management practices, and reduce the risk of inducing secondary digital divide effects.