Once diagnosed with an illness, many patients do not have adequate disease management information, according to a MedTera study.

"The fact that more than half of all respondents leave their doctor's office without knowing where to find answers to their important health care questions should cause both doctors and pharmaceutical makers concern," says Dr. Mark Vanelli, of Harvard Medical School. "Our responsibility goes beyond medication to long-term patient health and adherence, and our continued goal is to arm patients with the resources to better manage their condition."

In fact, when asked if they knew where to find online resources for disease management, 81 percent of patients answered not at all. Fifty-four percent said they had no access to medication and side effect information and did not receive the necessary information for disease management after leaving their physician's office.

In light of this study, key health care industry leaders are looking for ways to provide patients with better tools to inform them about their conditions and medications.

"Patients today are looking for compelling, interactive resources to manage their health for the long-term," says Dr. Mark Freed, a renowned cardiologist. "To meet this challenge, the industry must strive to offer a mix of innovative informational tools that enable the patient to become truly engaged, motivate action and adherence, and access essential information when they want it and where they want it."