A study of internet searches for medical information in dermatology patients: The patient–physician relationship

Abstract

BackgroundThe 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. ObjectiveThe 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 methodsA 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. ResultsOnline 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. LimitationsStudies with larger numbers of patients and other diseases, however, are required to confirm these results. ConclusionsThe 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.