Once diagnosed with an illness, many patients do not haveadequate diseasemanagement information, according to a MedTera study.

"The fact that more than half of all respondents leave theirdoctor's office without knowing where to find answers to theirimportant health care questions should cause both doctors andpharmaceutical makers concern," says Dr. Mark Vanelli, of HarvardMedical School. "Our responsibility goes beyond medication tolong-term patient health and adherence, and our continued goal isto arm patients with the resources to better manage theircondition."

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

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

"Patients today are looking for compelling, interactiveresources to manage their health for the long-term," says Dr. MarkFreed, a renowned cardiologist. "To meet this challenge, theindustry must strive to offer a mix of innovative informationaltools that enable the patient to become truly engaged, motivateaction and adherence, and access essential information when theywant it and where they want it."