Box 2.

Quotes from focus groups and in-depth interviews—use of the internet for obtaining health information

“In particular, for information retrieval the internet is really, really useful. I can easily go for a second, third, or probably fifteenth opinion about an issue and see what comes up”

“I can get three types of health information: I can print out information from the internet, I can read some literature, and I can talk to my doctor. Then I can see whether this information is congruent or differs. So, as a layperson, I obtain some kind of medical know-how and I can disagree with my doctor”

“The internet encourages you just to skim the text. You don't get as deep into it as you would do with printed material”

“Remember how, what for, and by whom the internet has been developed. It has been developed by 18 year old chaps. We shouldn't forget that these young fellows are putting up this crap without having a clue about what knowledge really means”