scholarly journals Web-Based Medical Information Searching by Chinese Patients With Breast Cancer and its Influence on Survival: Observational Study

10.2196/16768 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. e16768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Li ◽  
Shan Ye ◽  
Yidong Zhou ◽  
Feng Mao ◽  
Hailing Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Chinese Patients ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Information Searching ◽  
Web Based

Background The internet allows patients to easily look for health information. However, how Chinese patients with breast cancer use the internet has rarely been investigated, and there is a scarcity of information about the influence of internet use on survival. Objective This observational study aimed to investigate the details of online medical information searching by Chinese patients with breast cancer and to determine whether internet use has any survival benefits. Methods Patients who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2014 and December 2015 were enrolled. We obtained information on their internet-searching behavior and gathered data from the patients’ medical and follow-up records. The associations between internet use and other clinic-pathological factors were analyzed. A Cox proportional-hazards model and the Kaplan-Meier method were used for disease-free survival (DFS) analyses. Results A total of 973 patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent definitive surgery took part in the study. Among them, 477 cases (49.0%) performed web-based breast cancer information searching before the initial treatment. A multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that web-based breast cancer information searching was significantly associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.95, 95% CI 0.94-0.97, P<.001), higher education level (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.01–1.86, P=.04), and breast conserving surgery (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.04-1.77, P=.03). Baidu (73.4%, 350/477) and WeChat (66.7%, 318/477) were the two most popular online information sources for breast cancer; however, only 44.9% (214/477) felt satisfied with the online information. In contrast to the nonweb searching group, the web-using patients who were satisfied with online information showed significantly improved DFS (hazard ratio 0.26; 95% CI 0.08-0.88, P=.03). Conclusions The patients who were most likely to search the internet for breast cancer information were younger and well-educated, and they were more likely to have breast conserving therapy. Web-using patients who were satisfied with the internet information showed significantly improved DFS. Patients should browse credible websites offering accurate and updated information, and website developers should provide high-quality and easy-to-understand information to better meet the needs of patients with breast cancer.

A cross-sectional survey among physicians on Internet use for epilepsy-related information (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Brigo ◽  
Simona Lattanzi ◽  
Giorgia Giussani ◽  
Laura Tassi ◽  
Nicola Pietrafusa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internet Use ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Therapeutic Decisions ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Web

BACKGROUND The Internet has become one of the most important sources of health information, accessed daily by an ever-growing number of both patients and physicians, seeking medical advice and clinical guidance. A deeper insight into the current use of the Web as source of information on epilepsy would help in clarifying the individual attitude towards this medium by Internet users. OBJECTIVE We investigated views towards the Internet in a sample of Italian healthcare specialists involved in epilepsy field, to explore factors which explained the influence of information found on the internet. METHODS This study was a self-administered survey conducted in a group of members of the Italian Chapter of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) in January 2018. RESULTS 184 questionnaires were analyzed. 97.8% of responders reported to seek online information on epilepsy. The Internet was most frequently searched to obtain new information (69.9%) or to confirm a diagnostic or therapeutic decision (37.3%). The influence of consulting the Internet on clinical practice was associated with registration to social network(s) (OR: 2.94; 95%CI: 1.28-6.76; p=0.011), higher frequency of Internet use (OR: 3.66; 95%CI: 1.56-9.21; p=0.006) and higher confidence in reliability of online information (OR: 2.61; 95%CI: 1.09-6.26; p=0.031). No association was found with age, sex, years in epilepsy practice or easiness to find online information. CONCLUSIONS Internet is frequently used among healthcare professionals involved in the epilepsy to obtain information about this disease. The attitude of being influenced by the Internet for diagnostic and/or therapeutic decisions in epilepsy is independent on age and years of experience in epilepsy, and probably reflects an individual approach towards the Web.

Breast Cancer Information on the Internet

1997 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-65
Author(s):  
Claire Pillar
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
The Internet

Internet as a Source of Health Information and its Perceived Influence on Personal Empowerment

2011 ◽  
pp. 958-974
Author(s):  
Guy Paré ◽  
Jean-Nicolas Malek ◽  
Claude Sicotte ◽  
Marc Lemire
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Personal Empowerment ◽  
Participative Approach ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Search For Information

The primary aim of this study is twofold. First, the authors seek to identify the factors that influence members of the general public to conduct Internet searches for health information. Their second intent is to explore the influence such Internet use has on three types of personal empowerment. In the summer of 2007 the authors conducted a household sample survey of a population of Canadian adults. A total of 261 self-administered questionnaires were returned to the researchers. Our findings indicate that use of the Internet as a source of health information is directly related to three main factors: sex, age and the individual’s perceived ability to understand, interpret and use the medical information available online. Further, their results lend support to the notion that using the Internet to search for information about health issues represents a more consumer based and participative approach to health care. This study is one of the first to relate Internet use to various forms of personal empowerment. This area appears to have great potential as a means by which consumers can become more empowered in managing personal health issues.

Conventional cautions regarding online information: Do they predict accuracy of breast cancer websites?

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6086-6086
Author(s):  
F. Meric-Bernstam ◽  
M. Walji ◽  
D. Sagaram ◽  
S. Sagaram ◽  
C. W. Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Search Engine ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Feedback Mechanism ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Independent Evaluator ◽  
Online Methods

6086 Introduction: Cancer patients and oncologists are increasingly using the Internet. Online information is affecting patient decisions regarding treatment. Therefore, multiple organizations published advice on how to screen out problematic information online. In the present study, we sought to determine whether existing quality assessment tools can screen out false or inaccurate breast cancer information online. Methods: Using 15 representative search queries on five popular search engines and only the first page of results, we generated a list of 1,585 Web pages. After eliminating irrelevant, broken and duplicate links 343 unique web pages were downloaded and evaluated for website characteristics, information accuracy and 15 quality criteria: authorship identified, author credentials identified, physician credentials stated, author affiliation stated, sources clear, general disclosures, attribution/references provided, disclosure of ownership, date created displayed, date of last update displayed, date of creation or last updated displayed, editorial process stated, internal search engine present, feedback mechanism provided and copyright notice. Quality criteria were evaluated by an independent evaluator blinded to the accuracy information. Accuracy was determined independently by a pair of clinically trained evaluators. Results: Of 343 pages evaluated, 41 false/misleading statements were displayed on 18 distinct pages. The presence of an internal search engine was correlated most strongly (r = .196, r2 = .038) with health information accuracy. However, all quality criteria (alone or in combinations tested exhaustively) were linearly associated with less than 7% of the variance in number of inaccuracies per website. Conclusion: Currently available technical quality criteria do not identify false or misleading online information about breast cancer. At this time, directing patients to websites with known content appears to be the only way to ensure patients will not encounter false or misleading online information. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Use of the Internet to Obtain Cancer Information Among Cancer Patients at an Urban County Hospital

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (22) ◽  
pp. 4954-4962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Helft ◽  
Rachael E. Eckles ◽  
Cynthia Stair Johnson-Calley ◽  
Christopher K. Daugherty
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
County Hospital ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Internet Information ◽  
Use Of The Internet ◽  
Barriers To Use

Purpose To evaluate rates, predictors, and barriers to use of the Internet to obtain cancer information among a cohort of cancer patients at an urban county hospital. Patients and Methods Of 208 cancer patients approached, 200 patients completed a structured interview study examining Internet use, perceptions of the accuracy of Internet information, and barriers to use. Results Only 10% of participants reported using the Internet themselves to obtain cancer information. Another 21% reported exposure to Internet information through proxies. The most common barrier to Internet use cited was lack of Internet access, with 44% reporting that they would use the Internet to obtain cancer information if they had Internet access. Younger age and more years of formal education were significantly associated with Internet use, although race and income were not. Less education, African American race, and female sex were associated with lower estimates of the accuracy of Internet information. Fewer years of formal education was associated with increased likelihood of reporting confusion after reading Internet information. Conclusion Very few cancer patients in this study of a cohort of generally disadvantaged individuals used the Internet themselves to obtain cancer information, although many more desired to do so. Significant opportunities for Web-based interventions aimed at improving cancer care outcomes in this population of cancer patients exist. However, further study will be needed to determine how to make such intervention accessible, trustworthy, and understandable to the disadvantaged.

Evaluation Breast Cancer Information on The Internet in Arabic

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 810-818
Author(s):  
Lamya Alnaim
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
The Internet

scholarly journals Breast cancer information on the internet: Analysis of accessibility and accuracy

The Breast ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 514-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.M. Quinn ◽  
M.A. Corrigan ◽  
S.M. McHugh ◽  
D. Murphy ◽  
J. O’Mullane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
The Internet

The relationship between daily Internet use time and school performance in Korean adolescents

Open Medicine ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 444-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-Hyun Kim ◽  
Wi-Young So
Keyword(s):  
School Performance ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
First Grade ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Performance Levels ◽  
Korean Adolescents ◽  
Average School

AbstractThis study investigates whether daily Internet use time is related to the school performance of Korean adolescents. We therefore analyzed raw data from the 2009 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey-V (KYRBWS-V), in which 75,066 students from the middle-school first grade to the high-school third grade participated. We assessed the association between daily Internet use time and school performance by using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, body mass index, education level of parents, and economic status of the family. For boys, the odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for recording ≥ average school performance and daily time spent on Internet use was 1.876 (1.752–2.008, p < 0.001) for ≤1 hour, 1.564 (1.467–1.667, p < 0.001) for >1–≤2 hours, 1.158 (1.079–1.242, p < 0.001) for >2–≤3 hours, and 0.759 (0.695–0.828, p < 0.001) for over 4 hours, when compared to those who never used the Internet. For girls, the OR (95% CI) for recording ≥ average school performance and daily Internet use time was 1.729 (1.607–1.860, p < 0.001) for ≤1 hour, 1.503 (1.399–1.616, p < 0.001) for >1–≤2 hours, 1.193 (1.100–1.293, p < 0.001) for >2–≤3 hours, and 0.809 (0.725–0.903, p < 0.001) for over 4 hours, when compared to those who never used the Internet. It was concluded that Korean adolescents who spend ≤3 hours per day on the Internet are predisposed to an increase in performance levels at school, whereas those who spend over 4 hours per day on the Internet are predisposed to a decrease in school performance levels.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document