Medicine and the Internet: untangling the web

The Internet has ridden a rollercoaster of popularity since it became accessible to the general public in the early 1990s, from being viewed as a short-lived fad to being considered the ultimate solution to information and communication management. The Internet is clearly here to stay, and it now provides tangible support to healthcare providers in a number of roles. However, all of us, whether experienced users or novices, have felt overwhelmed, frustrated or entangled in this web. Medicine and the Internet is a comprehensive review of the history, technology and services of the Internet, and is a useful resource for the healthcare provider.