Tangled in the Breast Cancer Web: an Evaluation of the Usage of Web-Based Information Resources by Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

This study describes Internet use by breast cancer patients highlighting search patterns and examining the impact of web-based information on the clinical encounter. From September 2011 to January 2012, breast cancer patients at a cancer center completed a survey. Answers were closed and open-ended. Eighty-one patients were approached and 56 completed the survey. Forty-five (80 %) respondents used the Internet and 32 (71 %) searched for breast cancer information. All used Google as their principal search engine. To evaluate quality, 47 % referred to author credentials and 41 % examined references. Most sought information with respect to treatment or prognosis. Eighty percent felt that the information increased their knowledge and influenced treatment decision making for 53 %. This study highlights search patterns and factors used by breast cancer patients in seeking web-based information. Physicians must appreciate that patients use the Internet and address discrepancies between information sought and that which is available.

Sifting Through It All: Characterizing Melanoma Patients’ Utilization of the Internet as an Information Source

“…Likewise, over half found it impacted their clinical encounter with their melanoma specialist which was again comparable to our breast cancer study [13]. This is echoed to some extent in other studies.…”

“…A large percentage of Internet users in our study identified that the Internet influenced their treatment decision, similar to our breast cancer study [13]. Likewise, over half found it impacted their clinical encounter with their melanoma specialist which was again comparable to our breast cancer study [13].…”

“…The age range of respondents was similar between the studies [10]. It is interesting to note that that our results show greater Internet usage among melanoma patients when compared to our parallel survey of breast cancer patients also done at our institution [13]. In our parallel study conducted among our breast cancer patients, 71 % of respondents had searched for information online about their diagnosis [13].…”

“…It is interesting to note that that our results show greater Internet usage among melanoma patients when compared to our parallel survey of breast cancer patients also done at our institution [13]. In our parallel study conducted among our breast cancer patients, 71 % of respondents had searched for information online about their diagnosis [13]. We hypothesize that this difference may be partially due to the relative lack of written resources, patient support groups, and educational materials available for melanoma patients, which is less common than breast cancer.…”

Programa E-Health ICOnnecta’t: un ecosistema para fomentar el bienestar en cáncer a través de la propuesta europea ONCOMMUN

“…Paralelamente, si atendemos al uso que hacen de internet los pacientes oncológicos, los estudios indican que un 70-97% de ellos buscan información médica online (23,24 ). Este uso de internet se incrementa significativamente después del diagnóstico y se mantiene en la fase de supervivencia extendida, lo que indicaría necesidades de información no cubiertas (25) .…”