All We Need to Fear Is Fear Itself: Overcoming the Internet Resistance of Child Psychiatrists

Abstract

The Internet is revolutionizing health care, and yet health care providers, doctors in particular, are lagging behind health care consumers when it comes to embracing this new technology. Rather than condemn and dismiss this technophobia as childish and short-sighted, we need to understand its multifactorial origin as well as key strategic elements needed to conquer and eliminate it. This article summarizes lessons learned over a decade of using various approaches toward promoting Internet literacy among child psychiatrists in Toronto, Canada. Building and growing Ability OnLine, an online email network for youngsters with disabilities (1990-1995) was infinitely easier than convincing colleagues to learn about Internet health resources, let alone contribute to a departmental web page. By sharing our successes and failures, we hope to contribute to a FAQ of do's and don'ts for other E-literacy champions in Mental Health.