J Orgaz-Molina1, M Cotugno2, M S Girón-Prieto3, M A Arrabal-Polo2, J C Ruiz-Carrascosa1, A Buendía-Eisman2, S Arias-Santiago4. 1. Dermatology Department, San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada, Spain. 2. GranadaSchool of Medicine, Granada University, Spain. 3. PinosPuente Health-Care Centre, Granada. 4. Dermatology Department, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Spain. Electronic address: salvadorarias@hotmail.es.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The use of the Internet to search for medical information is considered by some physicians as an invasion of their medical domain and a reflection of a lack of trust in their advice and recommendations. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to estimate the amount of medical information gathered from the Internet and to establish whether these online searches reflect a lower degree of patient satisfaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A survey was conducted among 175 patients seen at the melanoma and psoriasis units of San Cecilio University Hospital in Granada, Spain between May 2010 and December 2011. RESULTS: Online searches for medical information were performed by 44.4% of patients who returned correctly completed questionnaires. The main reasons given for these searches were to complement appropriate information provided by the physician (67.3%) and to gather information before consultation with the physician (36.5%). Variables associated with the search for medical information on the Internet in the multivariate analysis were a higher educational level, a higher score on two items in the Need for Cognition Scale, and consultation of mass media other than the Internet. LIMITATIONS: Studies with larger numbers of patients and other diseases, however, are required to confirm these results. CONCLUSIONS: The search for medical information is a widespread reality among patients with psoriasis and melanoma and it is not associated with a poor relationship with the physician. Dermatologists can play a beneficial role by recommending trustworthy Internet sites during the patient's visit and by promoting the development of pages by scientific societies to provide high-quality information.
BACKGROUND: The use of the Internet to search for medical information is considered by some physicians as an invasion of their medical domain and a reflection of a lack of trust in their advice and recommendations. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to estimate the amount of medical information gathered from the Internet and to establish whether these online searches reflect a lower degree of patient satisfaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A survey was conducted among 175 patients seen at the melanoma and psoriasis units of San Cecilio University Hospital in Granada, Spain between May 2010 and December 2011. RESULTS: Online searches for medical information were performed by 44.4% of patients who returned correctly completed questionnaires. The main reasons given for these searches were to complement appropriate information provided by the physician (67.3%) and to gather information before consultation with the physician (36.5%). Variables associated with the search for medical information on the Internet in the multivariate analysis were a higher educational level, a higher score on two items in the Need for Cognition Scale, and consultation of mass media other than the Internet. LIMITATIONS: Studies with larger numbers of patients and other diseases, however, are required to confirm these results. CONCLUSIONS: The search for medical information is a widespread reality among patients with psoriasis and melanoma and it is not associated with a poor relationship with the physician. Dermatologists can play a beneficial role by recommending trustworthy Internet sites during the patient's visit and by promoting the development of pages by scientific societies to provide high-quality information.
Authors: Bianca Latance da Cruz; Arthur Cesar Dos Santos Minato; Ioana Bittencourt Mourão; Dayane Neres Pereira; Miguel Huckembeck de Oliveira; Juliano Vilaverde Schmitt Journal: An Bras Dermatol Date: 2022-06-04 Impact factor: 2.113
Authors: Stefan Bushuven; Markus Dettenkofer; Andreas Dietz; Stefanie Bushuven; Petra Dierenbach; Julia Inthorn; Matthias Beiner; Thorsten Langer Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-02-22 Impact factor: 3.240