Abstract P187: Analysis Of Online Information On Lifestyle Modification For Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients
Background: With continual advancement of treatment modalities, uncomplicated myocardial infarction (MI) patients are being discharged after only one to two days of hospitalization. Though patient education routinely takes place prior to discharge, patients often rely on online information for further guidance. This study aimed to analyze the content and variability of information regarding lifestyle modification for post-MI patients on the internet. Methods: The lay terms 'lifestyle changes after heart attack' were queried using the Google search engine. The first 100 websites were reviewed by two independent investigators. Websites were categorized as either professional or informational depending on the target audience, with the former written for healthcare professionals and the latter for average consumers. Websites that were personal, non-accessible, required payments for access, or included videos were excluded. Statistical analyses were performed using the chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test with significance level set at p<0.05. Results: A total of 86 websites (49 professional, 37 informational) met our inclusion criteria. The most frequently addressed changes were exercise (86.0%), nutrition (82.6%), smoking cessation (74.4%), mental health (50.0%), weight loss (38.4%), risk factor control (36.0%), adherence to cardiac rehabilitation (30.2%), compliance to prescribed medications (26.7%), alcohol abstinence (20.9%), and compliance to follow-up visits (11.6%). Smoking cessation was addressed significantly more often on informational websites (p=0.025), while alcohol abstinence was addressed significantly more often on professional websites (p=0.003). Conclusions: This study demonstrates the variability in information that post-MI patients will encounter on the internet. As it is difficult for patients to determine the credibility of different websites, it is crucial that online resources provide a full range of necessary information for their readers.