Use of the Web for Medical Information by a Gastroenterology Clinic Population

O’Connor, J. Barry; Johanson, John F.

doi:10.1001/jama.284.15.1962

Cited by 104 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…In the study, younger patients and females used the Internet more frequently than other groups. This was statistically significant and consistent with previous studies (7)(8)(9). Patients with higher levels of education showed a trend toward greater Internet use, but this trend did not achieve statistical significance.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Patients might search for medical information while awaiting consultation, and the Internet serves as an easily accessible resource. Studies conducted on Internet usage by patients with gastrointestinal ailments have shown Internet usage rates ranging from 26% to 92%, with females, younger patients, and educated patients more likely to use the web (7)(8)(9)(10)(11). When searching the Internet, patients most frequently sought causes of disease and treatment options (7,12).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of internet resources by patients awaiting gastroenterology consultation

Teriaky

Tangri²,

Chande³

2015

Turk J Gastroenterol

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Background/Aims: The purpose of this study is to understand how outpatients awaiting initial gastroenterology consultation seek medical information on the Internet and how wait times affect Internet usage. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 87 gastroenterology outpatients awaiting consultation was performed at a tertiary care center. Results: Fifty-two patients (60%) utilized the Internet for medical information. The mean age of patients using the Internet was 41 years, whereas the mean age of those not using the Internet was 60 years (p<0.0001). The Internet was used by 71% of females and 47% of males (p<0.05). Regarding the educational level, the Internet was sought by 33% of the patients possessing less than secondary school education, 59% possessing secondary school education, 66% with an undergraduate degree, and 100% with a postgraduate degree (p=0.14). The mean wait time for consultation for patients who utilized the Internet was 158 days, and for patients who did not was 147 days (p=0.60). The most common websites searched were medical, 71%. The most common medical information sought was symptoms and diagnosis by 85% of patients. The reasons for Internet use were wait times for 36% of patients and recommendation by a physician for 10%. Eighty seven percent of the patients who utilized the Internet believed that they suffered from an unidentified disease, whereas 46% of patients who did not utilize the Internet believed the same (p=0.0001). Conclusion: Younger patients and females were more likely to use the Internet, but wait times did not affect Internet usage. The Internet is a powerful patient resource; however, further physician guidance is required to help patients identify reliable resources.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of internet resources by patients awaiting gastroenterology consultation

Teriaky

Tangri²,

Chande³

2015

Turk J Gastroenterol

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“…This finding is similar to that described in the literature, in which 60 -78% of subjects wished to have an internet source of information about the disease. 10,24,25 These data indicate that the internet will become even more important in the coming years. Although barriers to internet access still exist, we believe that they will decrease with time as technology progresses, making health-care information on the internet more common.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Internet Use for Health-Care Information by Subjects With COPD

et al. 2015

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BACKGROUND: Although the internet is an important tool for entertainment, work, learning, shopping, and communication, it is also a possible source for information on health and disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proportion of subjects with COPD in São Paulo, Brazil, who use the internet to obtain information about their disease. METHODS: Subjects (N ‫؍‬ 382) with COPD answered a 17-question survey, including information regarding computer use, internet access, and searching for sites on COPD. Our sample was distributed according to the socioeconomic levels of the Brazilian population (low, 17.8%; medium, 66.5%; and high, 15.7%). RESULTS: Most of the subjects in the sample were male (62.6%), with a mean age of 67.0 ؎ 9.9 y. According to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages, 74.3% of the subjects were in stage II or III. In addition, 51.6% of the subjects had a computer, 49.7% accessed the internet, and 13.9% used it to search for information about COPD. The internet was predominantly accessed by male (70.3%) and younger (64.6 ؎ 9.5 y of age) subjects compared with female (29.7%, P ‫؍‬ .04) and older (67.5 ؎ 9.6 y of age, P < .007) subjects. Searching for information about COPD on the internet was associated with having a computer (5.9-fold), Medical Research Council dyspnea level 1 (5.3-fold), and high social class (8.4-fold). The search for information on COPD was not influenced by GOLD staging. CONCLUSIONS: A low percentage of subjects with COPD in São Paulo use the internet as a tool to obtain information about their disease. This search is associated with having a computer, low dyspnea score, and high socioeconomic level.

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“…Patient preference for being informed of abnormal results "face to face" (5) likely reflects a desire for discussion with the physician. Electronic media, which are used by a growing number of gastroenterology patients (11), may be used to convey test results to the patient. However, these methods of communicating are impersonal and may not be appropriate for conveying sensitive information.…”

Section: Doctor-patient Communication After Endoscopy: Drowning In Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Doctor-patient communication after endoscopy: drowning in information, starving for knowledge?

O'Connor¹

2001

The American Journal of Gastroenterology

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Use of the Web for Medical Information by a Gastroenterology Clinic Population

Cited by 104 publications

References 4 publications

Use of internet resources by patients awaiting gastroenterology consultation

Use of internet resources by patients awaiting gastroenterology consultation

Internet Use for Health-Care Information by Subjects With COPD

Doctor-patient communication after endoscopy: drowning in information, starving for knowledge?

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