This PhD research was a journey that lasted almost 3 years. During this time the researcher had a great chance to get familiar with new knowledge related not only to the strict aims of this research but also related to a variety of topics such as research methodologies, research process as well as various healthcare systems and the way they are organised.
A plethora of technical skills were also acquired and applied as well as critical thinking. The Aforementioned acquired and applied knowledge and skills changed the researcher’s way of thinking towards all problems and the solution seeking processes attached to them. The researcher was taught how to keep going forward even when everything seemed to be pulling him backwards. Research is a journey and as and as Konstantinos Kavafis, a famous Greek poet, said:
“As you set out for Ithaka
hope the voyage is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them:
you’ll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.”
Once I started my research journey, I faced many changes in my research and in my life. These changes made me believe that “Straight roads do not make skilful drivers”.
Appendix B: Willingness to Pay Survey
Appendix C: Medical Websites Dataset
Medical Website
|
Traffic
|
Traffic Cost
|
URL
|
Health Education Program
|
280,572
|
474,937
|
http://research.med.umkc.edu/aafp/pt_ed.html
|
My Pelvic Health
|
1,942
|
3,028
|
http://www.mypelvichealth.org/
|
RxSheets
|
|
|
http://www.rxsheets.com/
|
Patient Medical Assistant
|
2,342
|
2,896
|
http://www.sparkshealth.com/default.aspx
|
Vista Behavioral Health Plans
|
6,636
|
5,129
|
http://www.welch.jhu.edu/internet/medicalinfo.html
|
American Sleep Disorders Association
|
1,893
|
4,768
|
http://www.sleepassociation.org/index.php?f=phpbb/index.php
|
Mortara Instrument Company
|
|
|
http://www.mortara.com/
|
My optum health
|
2,303
|
2,870
|
http://www.myoptumhealth.com/portal/
|
What to Expect
|
828,945
|
1,008,914
|
http://www.whattoexpect.com
|
Centre for Evidence-based Medicine
|
1,915
|
1,527
|
http://www.cebm.net/
|
Glaxo-Wellcome Pharmaceuticals Co.
|
5,029
|
25,391
|
http://www.asthmacontrol.com/
|
Healthinfo
|
93,438
|
230,001
|
http://www.aafp.org/healthinfo
|
Medical Informatics Resources
|
482,698
|
1,018,571
|
http://www.welch.jhu.edu/internet/medicalinfo.html
|
Virtual Pediatric Hospital
|
2,657
|
4,245
|
http://www.virtualpediatrichospital.org
|
Better Medicine
|
45,120
|
65,181
|
http://www.bettermedicine.com/
|
Gold Standard Multimedia Inc
|
3,669
|
6,668
|
http://www.goldstandard.com/
|
Aetna Intelihealth
|
101,062
|
163,951
|
http://www.intelihealth.com/
|
CME Gateway
|
194
|
558
|
http://www.cmegateway.org
|
Critical Care Medicine List Server
|
5
|
8
|
http://www.ccm-l.org/about.html
|
Harvard Medical School
|
1,640,974
|
3,610,233
|
http://www.med.harvard.edu/
|
Health Resources for Primary Care
|
20,347
|
37,660
|
http://www.drexelmed.edu/
|
Claritin Allergy Relief Page
|
36,467
|
53,832
|
http://www.claritin.com/
|
eMedicine Health
|
1,829,275
|
3,483,798
|
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/
|
Genetics Home Reference
|
18,819,994
|
39,477,721
|
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/
|
Geriatric Mental Health Foundation
|
532
|
1,352
|
http://www.gmhfonline.org/gmhf/
|
Needy Meds
|
18,615
|
28,833
|
http://www.needymeds.org
|
WebMD
|
24,520,507
|
52,261,373
|
http://www.webmd.com/
|
AgingCare: An Online Community for Caregivers
|
23,225
|
49,949
|
http://www.agingcare.com/
|
Diving Medicine
|
691
|
1,849
|
http://scuba-doc.com/
|
Dr. Greenberg
|
857
|
5,248
|
http://www.greenbergcosmeticsurgery.com/ask-dr-greenberg.php
|
PDRHealth
|
42,774
|
87,020
|
http://www.pdrhealth.com/home/home.aspx
|
Urology Health (American Urological Association)
|
56,280
|
144,406
|
http://www.urologyhealth.org/patientinfo/
|
A Forum for Women's Health
|
135
|
245
|
http://www.gennexhealth.com/women/
|
Discovery Health
|
3,029,273
|
3,188,520
|
http://health.discovery.com/
|
Health Children
|
124,214
|
216,503
|
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx
|
Health Hippo
|
14,527
|
5,287,664
|
http://hippo.findlaw.com/
|
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
|
68,028
|
177,467
|
http://www.jcaho.org/
|
The Virtual Body
|
450
|
336
|
http://www.medtropolis.com/
|
Ask Noah About
|
1,426
|
2,338
|
http://www.noah-health.org/en/healthy/men/
|
CNN health
|
22,337,909
|
42,921,666
|
http://edition.cnn.com/HEALTH/
|
FirstGov for Senior Citizens’ Resources
|
1,813,611
|
$3,763,105
|
http://www.firstgov.gov/Topics/Seniors.shtml
|
Mayo Clinic
|
11,566,770
|
25,037,675
|
http://www.mayoclinic.com/
|
Medical Informatics at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
|
48,082
|
89,827
|
http://www.dsg.harvard.edu/
|
MedlinePlus
|
18,819,994
|
39,477,721
|
http://www.medlineplus.gov
|
MedLink
|
3,663
|
3,904
|
http://www.medlink.com/
|
National Cancer Institute
|
833,204
|
2,288,523
|
http://www.cancer.gov
|
NHS choices
|
351,949
|
665,267
|
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Pages/hub.aspx
|
NOAH: New York Online Access to Health
|
1,426
|
2,338
|
http://www.noah-health.org
|
Pediatrics
|
361,262
|
773,779
|
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary
|
Spine-Health.com
|
381,263
|
1,137,732
|
http://www.spine-health.com/
|
The Merck Manual
|
54,217
|
89,057
|
http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/index.html
|
Vaccine Page
|
1,197
|
2,993
|
http://vaccines.com/
|
American Society of Bariatric Physicians
|
1,131
|
6,330
|
http://www.asbp.org/
|
Ask Dr. Weil
|
316,966
|
465,931
|
http://www.drweil.com/drw/ecs/ask_dr_weil/index.html
|
Dr. Philip Gilly
|
130
|
83
|
http://www.kinderhookconnection.com/drgilly/
|
Healthy Women
|
13,069
|
27,035
|
http://www.healthywomen.org/
|
Internet Pathology Laboratory
|
514,201
|
1,311,822
|
http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/webpath.html
|
Joslin Diabetes Center
|
1,640,974
|
3,610,233
|
http://www.joslin.harvard.edu/
|
Medic8
|
3,317
|
5,115
|
medic8.com
|
Medicare Rights Non-profit advocacy group
|
4,819
|
30,171
|
http://www.medicarerights.org/
|
Mental Health Net
|
12,048
|
26,298
|
http://www.mentalhelp.net/
|
Mothers of Asthmatics
|
1,768
|
5,833
|
http://www.aanma.org/
|
National Jewish Center for Immunology & Respiratory Medicine
|
33,910
|
94,594
|
http://www.njc.org/
|
New York State Academy of Family Physicians
|
146
|
983
|
http://www.nysafp.org/
|
TeleTriage Systems™
|
38
|
128
|
http://www.teletriage.com/
|
The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging
|
1,833
|
4,304
|
http://www.healthinaging.org
|
Alzheimer’s Association
|
290,524
|
915,483
|
http://www.alz.org
|
American Academy of Family Physicians
|
93,438
|
230,001
|
http://familydoctor.org
|
American Society of Addiction Medicine
|
6,197
|
13,700
|
http://www.asam.org/
|
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