PHILADELPHIA – The Internet has grown as a resource for information about healthcare, but its trustworthiness is often questioned. Research indicates that content posted by a medical consultant is viewed as more trustworthy.

A recently launched Web site for insomnia has this in its favor, with all of its content being provided by a physician and being evidence-based.

HouseCall123, a privately funded company designed to help patients take greater control in managing their health conditions, launched the Web site Insomnia123.

The site is based on a three-step model of education, preparation for medical consult, and managing the condition.

"Insomnia is one of the most frequently searched topics on Google," says Mike Steinberg, MD, host of the Web site. "But people are not satisfied with the results they are finding."

"Seven out of 10 people with sleep problems never talk to their doctors about it," says Christine MacAdams, co-founder of HouseCall123. "In a recent poll 30 percent of those who had said they were dissatisfied with their insomnia-related doctor's visit."

A survey of more than 500 individuals with insomnia found that 80 percent indicated they did not think insomnia was important enough to make the appointment and that they could deal with their insomnia on their own.

Seventy-two percent indicated they did not want to take medication. A smaller, but notable proportion had doubts about their doctor and 39 percent believed their doctor couldn't do anything to make it better, and 29 percent didn't think their doctor would take their insomnia seriously.

"Given the level of dissatisfaction so many patients have with their sleep-related doctor's visits, it's not surprising that so many are turning to the Internet for help," says Steinberg.

In a study of 85.6 million U.S. adults, 38 percent say they have doubted their medical professional's opinion or diagnosis because it conflicted with information they found online.

Fard Johnmar, founder of Envision Solutions, a N.Y. -based healthcare marketing communications consulting firm, says research has found that physicians are usually responding in one of three ways to their patients' research online:

• Doctors see is it as an opportunity for dialogue with their patients.
• Doctors reject what their patients say.
• Doctors are proactive and try to shape online content by providing it themselves.

According to a 2006 U.S. study involving a nationally representative sample of 1,050 physicians, 38 percent found their patient's use of the Internet to benefit their relationship, while 54 percent reported no effect. Eight percent said they felt "challenged" and it had a negative effect on their relationship.

"I personally feel that traditional medicine has taken a paternalistic view of patients," says Steinberg. "I think hopefully we have moved away form this. The best way is to empower patients to take control of their own health and get them to interact with their doctor." Steinberg says that if done correctly the Internet can be the tool that people use to do this.