Information Therapy

A Prescription for the Digital Era

Abstract

Information therapy is the prescription of information intended to help patients understand their health and their health care issues. Information therapy is not a new concept, but the increasing emphasis on patient-centric care, the use of electronic information technologies, and the interest of consumers in health information make the use of information therapy appear more feasible than in the past. This article reviews the background of information therapy, shows the link between information therapy and patient-centric care, and suggests steps for developing an information therapy program within a health care organization.