scholarly journals Is doctor-patient relationship influenced by health online information?

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 692-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Rodrigues Alves da Mota ◽  
Carolina Cavalcanti Gonçalves Ferreira ◽  
Henrique Augusto Alves da Costa Neto ◽  
Ana Rodrigues Falbo ◽  
Suélem de Barros Lorena
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Physician Patient Relationship ◽  
Doctor Patient Relationship ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Positive Effects

SUMMARY OBJECTIVES To analyse the opinions and attitudes reported by medical specialists regarding online health information and their interference in the doctor-patient relationship. Methods A cross-sectional study developed between 2016 and 2017 in Recife-Pernambuco-Brazil, which used a questionnaire in person in a population of 183 specialists from the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira. The results were analysed through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Obtained approval of the Ethics Committee under the voucher number 121004/2016. Results In the opinion of 85.2% of physicians, online health information has both positive and negative impacts on the physician-patient relationship. Faced with a questioning patient who claims to have researched information on the internet, 98.9% of the physicians said they would try to explain the reasons for their diagnosis and treatment. 59% already had a patient who modified the treatment recommended after seeing health information on the Internet. 73.8% agreed that online health information has positive effects for the general public, but 89.1% feel that most patients do not know which online health information is reliable CONCLUSION The physicians surveyed view online health information in a positive way, but realize that it is necessary to be cautious as to their repercussions on the treatment of patients. There is concern about the accuracy of online health information, and it is incumbent upon the physician and health institutions to instruct patients about the sources of quality and that they are able to understand, as its known the patients have an active voice through the guarantee of the ethical principle of autonomy.

scholarly journals Health information seeking on the internet (Dr Google) and its effect on doctor-patient relationship: a cross-sectional study from Central Karnataka

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 4076
Author(s):  
Rachna Shekhar ◽  
Sandhya Rani Javalkar
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Doctor Patient Relationship ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: The Internet has proven to be a powerful vehicle for the dissemination of information and the use of Internet by the patients as a source of information on health and disease is increasing rapidly. It has reformed the doctor-patient relationship by empowering patients with information. The objective was to study the trends of patient’s health information seeking behaviour on the internet and its effects on the doctor-patient relationship.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst the 73 doctors and 110 patients attending the tertiary health care centre, Davanagere. A pre-tested and pre-validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Percentages and Proportions were used to summarize the study variables.Results: The most common search engine used was Google i.e. 92% and majority of them looked up symptoms/ disease condition 80%. 57% respondents verified doctor’s advice. 73% respondents stated that they used online health information for self-diagnosis but less than 10% of respondents took medications mentioned online. The doctors (60%) stated that the patient’s Internet use proves that the patient or his/her family are involved and take responsibility. However, 49.3% of doctors stated that they get uncomfortable when presented with online health information by the patients.Conclusions: Doctors are starting to recognize the use of the internet by patients as a source of health information. Patients consider the internet as a supplementary resource for better understanding of symptoms and diagnosis. The need of the hour is better communication between doctor and patients; and availability of reliable web-based health resources to patients for better compliance.

scholarly journals The effect of Dr Google on doctor–patient encounters in primary care: a quantitative, observational, cross-sectional study

BJGP Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. bjgpopen17X100833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noor Van Riel ◽  
Koen Auwerx ◽  
Pieterjan Debbaut ◽  
Sanne Van Hees ◽  
Birgitte Schoenmakers
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Internet Search ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Old Patients ◽  
Positive Effects

BackgroundTwo-thirds of all patients search the internet prior to a health consultation.AimTo explore how searching for online health information before visiting a doctor influences patients’ behaviour during the consultation.Design & settingA quantitative, observational, and cross-sectional study of 18–75-year-old patients who used the internet.MethodPatients were recruited by social media for the quantitative study. This was followed by a qualitiative study of GPs who were questioned in focus groups. Two questions were addressed: What is the effect of searching online health information on the behaviour of the patients? How does the GP handle this information?ResultsAlmost half of all responders (total n = 963) usually went to the doctor after the online information search but two-thirds were not reassured by the internet search. More than half of responders had more confidence in their GP after searching online. The older the responders, the more they went to the doctor after their internet search and the younger the responders, the more they were worried. The more frequently people consulted the internet for specific complaints, the more likely they reported reassurance.DiscussionPatients usually made an appointment with their GP after the internet search. New symptoms are rarely noticed and the search usually did not lead patients to distrust their GP. The majority of GPs described positive effects of the online search behaviour on the consultation.ConclusionThe emerging use of the internet for searching health information, commonly referred to as 'Dr Google', is not seen as a threat by GPs and leads to a better mutual understanding of symptoms and diagnosis.

scholarly journals Perceived Efficiency Outcomes, Sources and Awareness of Online Health Information among the Elderly during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8121
Author(s):  
Gizell Green ◽  
Riki Tesler ◽  
Cochava Sharon
Keyword(s):  
Health Status ◽  
Health Information ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Safety Skills ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Information Efficiency ◽  
Online Sources

The Internet and social media are crucial platforms for health information. Factors such as the efficiency of online health information, the outcomes of seeking online health information and the awareness of reliable sources have become increasingly important for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine differences between elderly individuals’ income above and below the average monthly wage in relation to their online health information efficiency and the outcomes of seeking online health information; to evaluate types of online information sources with online health information efficiency and the outcomes of seeking online health information; and to explore online health information efficiency as a mediator between health status and awareness of online sources. A cross-sectional study design was conducted with 336 elderly participants age 65 or older. The participants volunteered to complete a questionnaire. No differences were found between the two groups regarding efficiency in retrieving health information from official online health sites and Google. Perceived efficiency mediated health status and awareness of online sources. In these challenging times, it is important to provide a tailor-made education strategy plan for reliable sources of online health information for the elderly, in order to enhance their technology safety skills. It is also important to explore other mediating variables between health status and awareness of online sources.

scholarly journals The Internet Use for Health Information Seeking among Ghanaian University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benedict Osei Asibey ◽  
Seth Agyemang ◽  
Augustina Boakye Dankwah
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Use Of Internet

The aim of the study was to investigate university students’ use of the Internet for health purpose in the Ghanaian context. The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design. A total of 650 out of 740 students selected from 3 different universities participated, giving a response rate of 87.7% (650/740). Data were obtained using questionnaires and frequency and percentages were used to analyze data. The results show that university students are active users of the Internet as 78.3% (509/650) used Internet daily and 67.7% (440/650) use Internet for health purposes, for reasons including availability and ease of accessing information, privacy, confidentiality, and affordability. Use of Internet was constrained by unreliable and slow connection, high cost of Internet, and unreliable power supply. Also, 72.4% (315/435) used the online health information obtained as a basis for lifestyle change and only 39.5% (170/430) consulted health professionals after obtaining online information. The study concludes that students use Internet to seek online health support. The use of Internet to communicate with young people in relation to their health must therefore be explored. There is the need to be aware of online safety issues for young adults, including the need to provide information on privacy options.

scholarly journals Factors affecting the quality and reliability of online health information

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 205520762094899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopi Battineni ◽  
Simone Baldoni ◽  
Nalini Chintalapudi ◽  
Getu Gamo Sagaro ◽  
Graziano Pallotta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Web

Background Internet represents a relevant source of information, but reliability of data that can be obtained by the web is still an unsolved issue. Non-reliable online information may have a relevance, especially in taking decisions related to health problems. Uncertainties on the quality of online health data may have a negative impact on health-related choices of citizens. Objective This work consisted in a cross-sectional literature review of published papers on online health information. The two main research objectives consisted in the analysis of trends in the use of health web sites and in the quality assessment and reliability levels of web medical sites. Methods Literature research was made using four digital reference databases, namely PubMed, British Medical Journal, Biomed, and CINAHL. Entries used were “trustworthy of medical information online,” “survey to evaluate medical information online,” “medical information online,” and “habits of web-based health information users”. Analysis included only papers published in English. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to conduct quality checks of selected works. Results Literature analysis using the above entries resulted in 212 studies. Twenty-four articles in line with study objectives, and user characteristics were selected. People more prone to use the internet for obtaining health information were females, younger people, scholars, and employees. Reliability of different online health sites is an issue taken into account by the majority of people using the internet for obtaining health information and physician assistance could help people to surf more safe health web sites. Conclusions Limited health information and/or web literacy can cause misunderstandings in evaluating medical data found in the web. An appropriate education plan and evaluation tools could enhance user skills and bring to a more cautious analysis of health information found in the web.

scholarly journals The Correlation of Online Health Information–Seeking Experience With Health-Related Quality of Life: Cross-Sectional Study Among Non–English-Speaking Female Students in a Religious Community

10.2196/23854 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. e23854
Author(s):  
Zahra Kavosi ◽  
Sara Vahedian ◽  
Razieh Montazeralfaraj ◽  
Arefeh Dehghani Tafti ◽  
Mohammad Amin Bahrami
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking

Background Given the increasing availability of the internet, it has become a common source of health information. However, the effect of this increased access on health needs to be further studied. Objective This study aimed to investigate the correlation between online health information–seeking behavior and general health dimensions in a sample of high school students in Iran. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. A total of 295 female students participated in the study. The data were collected using two validated questionnaires: the e-Health Impact Questionnaire and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp). Results The participants moderately used online information in their health-related decisions, and they thought that the internet helped people in health-related decision making. They also thought that the internet could be used to share health experiences with others. Participants had moderate confidence in online health information and stated that the information provided by health websites was moderately understandable and reliable and moderately encouraged and motivated them to play an active role in their health promotion. Nevertheless, the results showed that online health information–seeking experience had no significant correlation with health-related quality of life. Conclusions This study provides insights into the effect of using internet information on the health of adolescents. It has important implications for researchers and policy makers to build appropriate policies to maximize the benefit of internet access for health.

scholarly journals The Correlation of Online Health Information–Seeking Experience With Health-Related Quality of Life: Cross-Sectional Study Among Non–English-Speaking Female Students in a Religious Community (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Kavosi ◽  
Sara Vahedian ◽  
Razieh Montazeralfaraj ◽  
Arefeh Dehghani Tafti ◽  
Mohammad Amin Bahrami
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking

BACKGROUND Given the increasing availability of the internet, it has become a common source of health information. However, the effect of this increased access on health needs to be further studied. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the correlation between online health information–seeking behavior and general health dimensions in a sample of high school students in Iran. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. A total of 295 female students participated in the study. The data were collected using two validated questionnaires: the e-Health Impact Questionnaire and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp). RESULTS The participants moderately used online information in their health-related decisions, and they thought that the internet helped people in health-related decision making. They also thought that the internet could be used to share health experiences with others. Participants had moderate confidence in online health information and stated that the information provided by health websites was moderately understandable and reliable and moderately encouraged and motivated them to play an active role in their health promotion. Nevertheless, the results showed that online health information–seeking experience had no significant correlation with health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS This study provides insights into the effect of using internet information on the health of adolescents. It has important implications for researchers and policy makers to build appropriate policies to maximize the benefit of internet access for health.

scholarly journals Protocol paper for the ‘Harnessing resources from the internet to maximise outcomes from GP consultations (HaRI)’ study: a mixed qualitative methods study

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. e024188
Author(s):  
Maureen Seguin ◽  
Laura Hall ◽  
Helen Atherton ◽  
Rebecca Barnes ◽  
Geraldine Leydon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Patient Questionnaires ◽  
Ethical Approval ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Questionnaire Studies

IntroductionMany patients now turn to the internet as a resource for healthcare information and advice. However, patients’ use of the internet to manage their health has been positioned as a potential source of strain on the doctor–patient relationship in primary care. The current evidence about what happens when internet-derived health information is introduced during consultations has relied on qualitative data derived from interview or questionnaire studies. The ‘Harnessing resources from the internet to maximise outcomes from GP consultations (HaRI)’ study combines questionnaire, interview and video-recorded consultation data to address this issue more fully.Methods and analysisThree data collection methods are employed: preconsultation patient questionnaires, video-recorded consultations between general practitioners (GP) and patients, and semistructured interviews with GPs and patients. We seek to recruit 10 GPs practising in Southeast England. We aim to collect up to 30 patient questionnaires and video-recorded consultations per GP, yielding up to 300. Up to 30 patients (approximately three per participating GP) will be selected for interviews sampled for a wide range of sociodemographic characteristics, and a variety of ways the use of, or information from, the internet was present or absent during their consultation. We will interview all 10 participating GPs about their views of online health information, reflecting on their own usage of online information during consultations and their patients’ references to online health information. Descriptive, conversation and thematic analysis will be used respectively for the patient questionnaires, video-recorded consultations and interviews.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been granted by the London–Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee. Alongside journal publications, dissemination activities include the creation of a toolkit to be shared with patients and doctors, to guide discussions of material from the internet in consultations.

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