Patients use of health information on the Internet: the impact on primary care consultations.

Gina Catherine Dolan, Rachel Iredale, Robert Williams, Jamal R. M Ameen
University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd UK

Introduction: Patients use of health-related information from the Internet is increasing at an exponential rate. Although some information is available about how health professionals use the Internet (Roscoe, 1998, Wilson, 1999) little is known about how patients utilise this information. Some patients may actively seek information to assume more responsibility for their health. However, others may feel obliged to do so because of failing confidence in health care provision. An increasing number of patients bring in information which they have accessed from the Internet for discussion in primary health care consultations. Such assertions are primarily reported from GPs experiences in consultations rather then directly from patients.

This clearly supports the move towards patients taking on a more active role in consultations. Health professionals have the potential to assist patients to make sense of health information from the Internet; however they may not necessarily welcome this role (Wilson 1999, Murray et al. 2003). Aim This study aims to evaluate patient use health information from the Internet in primary care and consider the impact of such use on the doctor-patient relationship. Study design Adult patients (n=50) from general practices in South Wales (UK) were interviewed about the health information they use, including the Internet. Healthcare professionals (n= 12) were also interviewed about how patients use the Internet and the impact this has on consultations. To address a potential digital divide the practices were selected from areas with differing levels of deprivation.

Results: Patients were positive about using the Internet as a source of information. Use of the Internet was mainly triggered by an illness or condition, and in some cases patients turned to the Internet for information about an unresolved health problem. Patients often sought confirmation of Internet information by discussing it with their health professional at a subsequent consultation. Discussions of this kind were highly valued by patients who often felt more in control and satisfied with their consultation. However, there was a general concern by patients that health professionals would feel challenged by the introduction of such information, as they would feel that their role as a professional was being questioned. In some cases this discouraged patients from referring to Internet information in consultations.

Health professionals were generally supportive of informed patients but a major concern was the time required to discuss information brought in by the patient. Conclusions Many patients actively use the Internet as an information source. The use of Internet information during consultations is on the increase, and although patients are positive about such use, doctors do not necessarily encourage Internet informed patients. It is now important to consider perhaps the changing role of health professionals how patients can be best guided in their use of health information in the future.