Cisco Network Systems, a company that creates intelligent integrated networks to adapt to current and future business needs, reported on a study that says one in three Americans claim that the Internet changed the way they manage their health.

The main findings of this survey of over 4,000 people include:

• 62% reported using online health tools.
• 56% reported improvement in their health management due to personal technology.
• 2% of patients with chronic diseases thought that online health tools had improved their management.
• One third of patients thought that online tools enabled them to be an "equal partner with my care providers in making health decisions."
• 62% reported that they would go to their personal physician for information and advice; 44% said they sought information and advice on medical Web sites; 32% said that found healthcare information and advice through an online search.
• The Internet ranked as number 3 among the top 5 sources for medical information.
• 62% said that their physician did not utilize the Internet to manage their health.
• Among ways respondents said that their physicians do utilize the Internet include: direct e-mail communication with patients; scheduling of appointments; offering a way to check on practice and credentials on a Web site.
• 27% thought their physician fully embraced the Internet.
• Only 11% of physicians communicate by e-mail even though 45% of Americans would like this method of contact.
• 34% of patients wanted to access lab results by a secure Web site while only 7% stated that they had this option.
• 33% would like to schedule appointments online but only 7% said that this was currently available to them.
• 40% of patients had privacy concerns with the use of the Internet. A quarter of patients were concerned that private medical information could be used inappropriately.