Table 8 Summary of advantages and disadvantages of intervention formats

Clinician

• Personal

• Time required

• Information readily tailored to patient concerns or characteristics

• Oral presentation related to limited learning

• Clinicians may not have therapeutic skills

• Interactive

• Opportunity for questions and follow-up

Information Kiosk

• Information can be computer tailored

• Less personal

• Interactive

• Less clearly tailored

• Multimedia may enhance patient interest and understanding

• Less opportunity for follow-up

• Requires less clinician time

• Demands some computer skills

• Can provide more information in a longer intervention

• Requires space and computer support

• Can provide therapeutic interventions for depression and substance abuse

Internet Based

• Information can be computer tailored

• Less personal

• Less clearly tailored

• Much less opportunity for follow-up questions

• Interactive

• Requires computer and high-speed Internet access

• Multimedia may enhance patient interest and understanding

• Requires less clinician time

• Can provide more information in a longer intervention

• Can provide therapeutic interventions for depression and substance abuse

• Can be available on demand at times when patients are available or motivated.