ICT and empowerment

Can systems for direct communication with own doctor via internet affect the patients' empowerment and participation in their health situation? Optionally, for which patients and situations in which this applies?

The two angles ICT-communication in doctor-patient relation and empowerment was used to highlight the issue. Theories that could explain how empowerment and participation was connected to other social mechanisms were drawn in.

Case was the development project Patient link at NST. The project tried out a solution for secure internet-communication between five GPs and their patients.