Developing internet-based occupational therapy services.

The purpose of this paper is twofold: (a) to provide a guideline for occupational therapists to follow in the development of Internet-based services, and (b) to illustrate how this guideline has been applied in the development of an Internetbased service for family caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). With increasing Internet use to access health information (Statistics Canada, 2002; U.S. Census Bureau, 2001), the Internet has become a means for health care professionals to supplement information and support clients. Occupational therapists who want to develop Internet-based services require additional knowledge that is typically not acquired in their professional education. The problems, standards, and ethical issues concerned with health care delivery via the Internet are only beginning to be addressed. This paper attempts to contribute to these domains.