Experiences and attitudes of Dutch rheumatologists and oncologists with regard to their patients’ health-related Internet use (original) (raw)
Related papers
Brief Report: What types of internet guidance do patients want from their physicians
Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2005
OBJECTIVES: To understand what patients expect from physicians regarding information seeking on the Internet. DESIGN: Self-administered survey. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Waiting rooms of 4 community-based primary care offices. MEASUREMENTS/MAIN RESULTS: Of 494 patients invited to participate, 330 completed the survey for a response rate of 67%. Of 177 respondents who used the Internet for health information, only 15% agreed that physicians should ask them about their Internet searches. Most (62%) agreed that physicians should recommend specific web sites where patients can learn more about their health care. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care physicians should recognize that many patients would like guidance as they turn to the Internet for medical information. Physicians can utilize quality assessment tools and existing resources that facilitate referring patients to authoritative, commercial-free, patient-oriented medical information on the Internet.
Survey of Doctors' Experience of Patients Using the Internet
Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2002
BackgroundThere have been many studies showing the variable quality of Internet health information and it has often been assumed that patients will blindly follow this and frequently come to harm. There have also been reports of problems for doctors and health services following patient Internet use, but their frequency has not been quantified. However, there have been no large, rigorous surveys of the perceptions of Internet-aware doctors about the actual benefits and harms to their patients of using the Internet.ObjectiveTo describe Internet-literate doctors' experiences of their patients' use of the Internet and resulting benefits and problems.MethodsOnline survey to a group of 800 Web-using doctors (members of a UK medical Internet service provider, Medix) in September and October 2001.ResultsResponses were received from 748 (94%) doctors, including 375 general practitioners (50%). Respondents estimated that 1%-2% of their patients used the Internet for health information in the past month with no regional variation. Over two thirds of the doctors considered Internet health information to be usually (20%) or sometimes (48%) reliable; this was higher in those recently qualified. Twice as many reported patients experiencing benefits (85%; 95% confidence interval, 80%-90%) than problems (44%; 95% confidence interval, 37%-50%) from the Internet. Patients gaining actual physical benefits from Internet use were reported by 40% of respondents, while 8% reported physical harm. Patients' overall experiences with the Internet were judged excellent 1%, good 29%, neutral 62%, poor 9%, or bad <1%. Turning to the impact of patient Internet use on the doctors themselves, 13% reported no problems, 38% 1 problem, and 49% 2 or more problems. Conversely, 20% reported no benefits for themselves, 49% 1 benefit, and 21% 2 or more benefits.ConclusionsThese doctors reported patient benefits from Internet use much more often than harms, but there were more problems than benefits for the doctors themselves. Reported estimates of patient Internet usage rates were low. Overall, this survey suggests that patients are deriving considerable benefits from using the Internet and that some of the claimed risks seem to have been exaggerated.
This article presents some preliminary findings concerning patient's use of the Internet for medical information. The aim is to increase our understanding of patient's on-line activities using the perspective of Virtual Communities. The study reported takes the point of departure in Internet use by patient associations and their contact with patients. This approach provides an opportunity to analyse a larger and more varying group of patients and their use of the Internet for medical information. The results of the study points at a number of opportunities and challenges both for patients as individuals but also for health care providers and society in a larger perspective.
Patients’ use of health-related information from the Internet is increasing at an exponential rate. Although we have some information about how health professionals use the Internet (Roscoe, 1998; Wilson, 1999) we know little about how patients utilise this information. Some patients may actively seek information to assume more responsibility for their health. However, others may feel forced into doing so because of failing confidence in health care provision. Health professionals have the potential to assist patients to make sense of health information from the Internet; however, they may not necessarily welcome this role (Wilson, 1999; Eberhart-Phillips et al., 2000). This study aims to evaluate patient use of such information in primary care and to establish how this can be directed in the future. 851 adult patients from general practice were surveyed about the health information they use, including the Internet. 50 patients from the survey were then randomly selected for interview. Abstracts 242 International Journal of Consumer Studies, 27, 3, June 2003, pp218–251 © 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 12 health care professionals were also interviewed about how patients use the Internet and the impact this has on consultations. The majority of patients (80%) prefer to use their GP as a source of health information. The remaining sources of information received significantly lower ratings. However, the Internet was the second most preferred source of information (7%). Of those using the Internet about two thirds felt more prepared and able to participate in decision-making about treatments. The majority of patients rely on their doctor for health information. However, many patients actively use the Internet as an information source. The use of Internet information during consultations is on the increase, and although patients are positive about such use, doctors do not necessarily welcome Internet informed patients. It is now necessary to identify the training needs of health care professionals for dealing appropriately with Internet informed patients.
The availability and nature of physician information on the internet
2010
BACKGROUND: Although patients are commonly using the Internet to find healthcare information, the amount of personal and professional physician information and patient-generated ratings freely accessible online is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the nature of online professional and personal information available to the average patient searching for physician information through a standardized web search. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We studied 250 randomly selected internal medicine physicians registered with the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine in 2008. For each physician, standardized searches via the Google search engine were performed using a sequential search strategy. The top 20 search results were analyzed, and websites that referred to the study subject were recorded and categorized. Physician rating sites were further investigated to determine the number of patient-entered reviews. MAIN MEASURES: Number and content of websites attributable to specific physicians. KEY RESULTS: Websites containing personal or professional information were identified for 93.6% of physicians. Among those with any web sites identified, 92.8% had professional information and 32.4% had personal information available online. Female physicians were more likely to have professional information available on the Internet than male physicians (97.5% vs. 91.7%, p=0.03), but had similar rates of available personal information (32.5% vs. 32.5%, p=ns). Among personal sites, the most common categories included social networking sites such as Facebook (10.8% of physicians), hobbies (10.0%), charitable or political donations (9.6%), and family information (8.8%). Physician rating sites were identified for 86.4% of providers, but only three physicians had more than five reviews on any given rating site. CONCLUSIONS: Personal and professional physician information is widely available on the Internet, and often not under direct control of the individual physician. The availability of such information has implications for physician-patient relationships and suggests that physicians should monitor their online information.
Prepared patients: Internet information seeking by new rheumatology patients
Arthritis and Rheumatism, 2008
ObjectiveTo investigate to what extent and why new rheumatology patients access medical information online prior to first appointments and secondarily to ask whether they discuss information gained from the Internet with physicians.To investigate to what extent and why new rheumatology patients access medical information online prior to first appointments and secondarily to ask whether they discuss information gained from the Internet with physicians.MethodsResearch was conducted in a teaching rheumatology clinic with a nonrandom sample of 120 English-speaking adults presenting for first appointments in rheumatology. Quantitative and qualitative data were gained in pre- and postappointment patient surveys and interviews, including online information gathering prior to first appointment, demographics, health status, information usage in patient-physician interactions, and satisfaction. Data were analyzed for significant relationships across variables and for qualitative insights into quantitative outcome measures.Research was conducted in a teaching rheumatology clinic with a nonrandom sample of 120 English-speaking adults presenting for first appointments in rheumatology. Quantitative and qualitative data were gained in pre- and postappointment patient surveys and interviews, including online information gathering prior to first appointment, demographics, health status, information usage in patient-physician interactions, and satisfaction. Data were analyzed for significant relationships across variables and for qualitative insights into quantitative outcome measures.ResultsOf all patients, 87.5% looked up their symptoms or suspected condition prior to their first appointment and 62.5% of all patients sought that information on the Internet. Only 20% of online information seekers discussed that information with their physicians. Age and sex were significant predictors of Internet information seeking. Physician and patient appointment satisfaction was significantly higher when Internet information was discussed; however, most patients did not discuss their information seeking because they primarily feared being perceived as challenging their physician.Of all patients, 87.5% looked up their symptoms or suspected condition prior to their first appointment and 62.5% of all patients sought that information on the Internet. Only 20% of online information seekers discussed that information with their physicians. Age and sex were significant predictors of Internet information seeking. Physician and patient appointment satisfaction was significantly higher when Internet information was discussed; however, most patients did not discuss their information seeking because they primarily feared being perceived as challenging their physician.ConclusionThe majority of patients research their conditions online prior to initial appointments, but are unlikely to discuss that research with physicians even though discussion is related to higher satisfaction. Physicians may want to consider strategies for enabling communication about online research.The majority of patients research their conditions online prior to initial appointments, but are unlikely to discuss that research with physicians even though discussion is related to higher satisfaction. Physicians may want to consider strategies for enabling communication about online research.
Patient education and …, 2009
Objective: Many patients use the Internet to obtain health-related information. It is assumed that healthrelated Internet information (HRII) will change the consultation practice of physicians. This article explores the strategies, benefits and difficulties from the patients' and physicians' perspective. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted independently with 32 patients and 20 physicians. Data collection, processing and analysis followed the core principles of Grounded Theory. Results: Patients experienced difficulties in the interpretation of the personal relevance and the meaning of HRII. Therefore they relied on their physicians' interpretation and contextualisation of this information. Discussing patients' concerns and answering patients' questions were important elements of successful consultations with Internet-informed patients to achieve clarity, orientation and certainty. Discussing HRII with patients was appreciated by most of the physicians but misleading interpretations by patients and contrary views compared to physicians caused conflicts during consultations. Conclusion: HRII is a valuable source of knowledge for an increasing number of patients. Patients use the consultation to increase their understanding of health and illness. Determinants such as a patientcentred consultation and timely resources are decisive for a successful, empowering consultation with Internet-informed patients. Practical implications: If HRII is routinely integrated in the anamnestic interview as a new source of knowledge, the Internet can be used as a link between physicians' expertise and patient knowledge. The critical appraisal of HRII during the consultation is becoming a new field of work for physicians. ß
Advances in Website Information Resources to Aid in Clinical Practice
American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book, 2015
The World Wide Web, which has been widely implemented for roughly two decades, is humankind&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s most impressive effort to aggregate and organize knowledge to date. The medical community was slower to embrace the Internet than others, but the majority of clinicians now use it as part of their everyday practice. For the practicing oncologist, there is a daunting quantity of information to master. For example, a new article relating to cancer is added to the MEDLINE database approximately every 3 minutes. Fortunately, Internet resources can help organize the deluge of information into useful knowledge. This manuscript provides an overview of resources related to general medicine, oncology, and social media that will be of practical use to the practicing oncologist. It is clear from the vast size of the Internet that we are all life-long learners, and the challenge is to acquire &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;just-in-time&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; information so that we can provide the best possible care to our patients. The resources that we have presented in this article should help the practicing oncologist continue along the path of transforming information to knowledge to wisdom.
Patient's Use of Medical Information on the Internet: Opportunities and Challenges
Doing IT together, Proceedings of the 23 rd …, 2000
This article presents some preliminary findings concerning patient's use of the Internet for medical information. The aim is to increase our understanding of patient's on-line activities using the perspective of Virtual Communities. The study reported takes the point of departure in Internet use by ...