Rev Bras Cir Plást. 2012;27(4):531-5 531Use of the Internet as a source of information about plastic surgery in Bahia, Brazil Use of the Internet as a source of information about plastic surgery in Bahia, Brazil O uso da internet como fonte de informação sobre cirurgia plástica na Bahia, Brasil ABSTRACT Background: The Internet has become one of the most important sources of health in formation. However, few studies have assessed the characteristics of Internet usage by patients or how the information obtained affects decisions to undergo surgery. This study describes the characteristics of Internet usage by patients who intended to undergo plastic surgery at the Unified Health System (SUS) and private networks and how it affected their confidence. Methods: A crosssectional observational study was performed using data collected by 200 surveys filled out by patients before the operation. One hundred surveys were sent to patients attending the outpatient clinic of Plastic Surgery of Professor Edgard Santos University Hospital (SUS), and the remaining 100 to patients treated in private health clinics in Salvador, BA. Results: The frequency of Internet use to seek health informa tion on plastic surgery differed significantly between the SUS (n = 24; 24%) and private health services (n = 64; 64%). Most of the patients (n = 48; 54.5%) visited 1 to 3 sites. The websites of plastic surgery centers were the most sought (n = 74; 84.1%), followed by the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery website. Half of the patients reported the existence of contra dictory information. Moreover, 71 (80.7%) of the respondents reported feeling that undergoing surgery was safe. Conclusions: The Internet was widely used to seek informa tion on plastic surgery. Although visited sites contained contradictory information, most patients felt safe before undergoing their desired surgery. Keywords:Internet. Information. Plastic surgery. RESUMO Introdução:A internet se tornou uma das mais importantes fontes de informação sobre saúde. Poucos estudos avaliam as características do acesso à internet pelos pacientes e a influência das informações obtidas na decisão em realizar uma cirurgia. O objetivo deste estudo é descrever as características do acesso à internet pelos pacientes do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) e da rede privada que pretendem se submeter a uma cirurgia plástica, bem como avaliar o impacto do acesso na confiança do paciente em realizar o procedimento. Método: Realizado estudo observacional de corte transversal com uso de dados coletados por meio de 200 questionários respondidos por pacientes ainda não operados, sendo 100 dirigidos aos pacientes atendidos no ambulatório de Cirurgia Plástica do Hospital Univer sitário Professor Edgard Santos (SUS) e 100, aos pacientes atendidos em consultório da rede privada de saúde, na cidade de Salvador, BA. Resultados: A frequência do acesso à internet na busca por informação sobre cirurgia plástica foi significativamente diferente entre o SUS (n = 24; 24%) e a rede privada (n = 64; 64%). A maiori...
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