C Jacomet1, P Bastiani2, J Prouteau3, C Lambert4, F Linard5, R Ologeanu-Taddei6, P Dellamonica7. 1. Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, CHU Clermont-Ferrand. France. Electronic address: cjacomet@chu-clermontferrand.fr. 2. AC SIDA, Nice. France. Electronic address: pbastia06@gmail.com. 3. Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, CHU Clermont-Ferrand. France. Electronic address: jprouteau@chu-clermontferrand.fr. 4. Délégation Recherche Clinique & Innovation, CHU Clermont-Ferrand. France. Electronic address: clambert@chu-clermontferrand.fr. 5. Services des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, CHU Tenon, CHU Hôtel Dieu, APHP- Sorbonne Université. France. Electronic address: francoise.linard@outlook.com. 6. Systèmes d'Information - Montpellier Recherche en Management & Polytech Montpellier, Université de Montpellier. France. Electronic address: roxana.ologeanu-taddei@umontpellier.fr. 7. Professeur émérite, Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Université de la Cote d'Azur. France. Electronic address: dellamopierrre@yahoo.fr.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To identify patterns of use, perceived benefits, and barriers among people living with HIV (PLHIV) of online searches for health information and via social media. METHODS: Online multicenter observational survey (October 15-19, 2018). RESULTS: Study participation was accepted by 838/1,377 PLHIV followed in 46 centers, of which 325 (39%) responded online: 181 (56%) had already used the Internet to search for health information; 88/181 (49%) on HIV infection and 78 (43%) on nutrition. These 56% were characterized by a higher educational level (OR=1.82 ±0.50; p=0.028) and more often consulted other specialists (OR=3.14 ±1.26; p=0.004). A subset of 87/180 (48%) PLHIV had changed the way they looked after their health based on their online research, and were more often in material/social deprivation (p=0.02) and diabetic (p=0.02). A small subset of 19/180 (11%) had already asked or answered a question on a forum; these people tended to be women (p=0.03) in material/social deprivation (p=0.009). 296/322 (92%) PLHIV trusted their physician whereas only 206 (64%) trusted information sourced on medical websites. 238/323 (74%) PLHIV expected their physicians to recommend websites if asked, whereas only 23/323 (7%) had actually been given this guidance. CONCLUSION: More than half of PLHIV surveyed had already searched for health information on the Internet, and one in two had changed their behavior based on the online search. PLHIV did not see the Internet as an alternative to physicians but they wanted their physicians to guide them on how to find quality health information to better self-manage their condition.
OBJECTIVES: To identify patterns of use, perceived benefits, and barriers among people living with HIV (PLHIV) of online searches for health information and via social media. METHODS: Online multicenter observational survey (October 15-19, 2018). RESULTS: Study participation was accepted by 838/1,377 PLHIV followed in 46 centers, of which 325 (39%) responded online: 181 (56%) had already used the Internet to search for health information; 88/181 (49%) on HIV infection and 78 (43%) on nutrition. These 56% were characterized by a higher educational level (OR=1.82 ±0.50; p=0.028) and more often consulted other specialists (OR=3.14 ±1.26; p=0.004). A subset of 87/180 (48%) PLHIV had changed the way they looked after their health based on their online research, and were more often in material/social deprivation (p=0.02) and diabetic (p=0.02). A small subset of 19/180 (11%) had already asked or answered a question on a forum; these people tended to be women (p=0.03) in material/social deprivation (p=0.009). 296/322 (92%) PLHIV trusted their physician whereas only 206 (64%) trusted information sourced on medical websites. 238/323 (74%) PLHIV expected their physicians to recommend websites if asked, whereas only 23/323 (7%) had actually been given this guidance. CONCLUSION: More than half of PLHIV surveyed had already searched for health information on the Internet, and one in two had changed their behavior based on the online search. PLHIV did not see the Internet as an alternative to physicians but they wanted their physicians to guide them on how to find quality health information to better self-manage their condition.