The determinants of internet use for health information among patients with breast cancer: Cross-sectional data from 2007 to 2010 (original) (raw)

Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2011

Abstract

e19678 Background: The number of people with access to the Internet and who actually use it to obtain health information is continuously on the rise. Gynecologists must, therefore, adapt their practice to these changing circumstances. However, there is still virtually no data available on the determinants of patient Internet use. This study aims to determine the percentage of breast cancer patients using the Internet for health information and to ascertain which socio-demographic and disease characteristics are associated with this use. METHODS The study population consisted of female patients with primary breast cancer who had undergone surgery in one of the breast centers in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia between February and July of the years 2007 to 2010. Patients from the four cohorts were surveyed postoperatively by mail using the Cologne Patient Questionnaire for Breast Cancer (CPQ-BC). Of the patients who consented to participating in the survey (consent rate: 90 %), an average of 88 % responded to the questionnaire. The total sample size for the study in 2007 to 2010 was N = 14,923. Frequency and logistic regression analyses were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Over the three years of the study, there was an increase in the percentage of breast cancer patients using the Internet to obtain information on their condition (2007: 30.9%; 2008: 32.7%; 2009: 34.3%; 2010: 37.2%). Significant differences were found in the correlations between the different age and social status groups and Internet use. Older patients, patients with lower levels of formal education, patients without a partner, and patients without private medical insurance are significantly less likely to search for health information online. CONCLUSIONS One-third of breast cancer patients in the sample use the Internet to obtain information on their condition, and this number is rising. Patient Internet use is associated with age, education, and insurance status in all four cohorts.

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