INTERNET USE FOR PATIENT INFORMATION

Participants: J.S. Biermann, J.M. Hall

Keywords: Internet, Internet usage, medical information, patient information

Introduction

Patients faced with life-threatening disease often turn to many sources for medical information, including, more recently, the Internet. Regular weekly Internet users now comprise 40% of the U.S. population, and searching for health information is one of the primary uses. Half the people who have used the Internet to get health and medical information say this information has improved the way they take care of themselves and many report that online information has directly affected their decisions about how to treat illness and deal with their doctors.

The purpose of this study is to learn more about how patients use the Internet as a source of medical information. As we learn more about this, we will be better able to help patients get information as easily as possible.

Materials and Methods

All adult women presenting to the Breast Care Clinic during a one year data collection interval will be approached by a nurse or investigator and invited to participate. The nature of the study and the requirements for participation will be explained to them and they will be given an opportunity to ask questions. Those who agree to participate will sign an informed consent document, then complete a two page, self-administered confidential questionnaire prior to leaving the clinic. Each participant will also be asked whether she would be willing to complete the same questionnaire about two weeks later. Those who agree to repeat the questionnaire will have the questionnaire mailed to them ten days after their initial participation. They will be asked to complete the questionnaire a second time and mail it back in a postage paid envelope that we will provide. Responses to the repeat questionnaires will be used to estimate the test/retest reliability of the instrument

Progress

This is a continuation of a study previously conducted in oncology and pediatric orthopaedic clinics. Four hundred thirty-four subjects from those clinics have completed questionnaires. IRB approval has been obtained for this new phase of the study (breast cancer patients) and subject recruitment will begin shortly.