[Internet use among patients with gastrointestinal diseases in a general hospital]

Abstract

Introduction: The internet has provoked a radical change in access to medical information. Access to medical websites among patients with gastrointestinal diseases has not been studied in our environment.

Objective: To determine the level of access and use of internet as a source of medical information in patients with gastrointestinal diseases in our environment.

Material and methods: We surveyed 699 consecutive patients, who were admitted to hospital or who were from intra- and extrahospital outpatient gastroenterology clinics.

Results: Responses were obtained from 671 patients (55% women), aged from 18 to 88 years, (mean 54 +16). Thirty-six percent used the internet. There were no differences between men and women, but differences were found by age (86% >30 years vs 6%>70, p<0.005). More inpatients sought information than outpatients (77% vs 54%, p<0.005). Patients with inflammatory disease used the internet more than the remaining patients (57% vs 33%, p>0.005, OR 2.710 CI 1.628-4.511). Seventy-seven percent of men and 70% of women believed the information was less reliable than that provided by the physician. Eighty-six percent of patients would like e-mail contact with their physician. Eighty-nine percent thought the internet was useful to resolve doubts, 89% wanted the addresses of health sites and 90% wanted to receive periodic information on their disease. Patients without a university education wanted more periodic information (p = 0.01) and more information on how to search for medical information (p = 0.03).

Conclusions: One-third of patients with gastrointestinal diseases use the internet to obtain information on their disease. Patients require more information from their physician on internet health resources.