Health Care Going Online: Help Seeking Behavior by Patients for Sexual Problems—Analysis of Online Queries on Sexual Health

Abstract

Background and Objective: Health care industry is going through a renaissance with the advances in mobile Internet technology. Health care seeking has become easier for people and there are multiple providers offering online consultations and counselling. Sexual medicine is still an unrecognized specialty in India. People suffering from sexual health problems and dysfunctions have a lot of stigma approaching health care professionals. With the coming in of Internet-based services, people are finding it easier to seek help online anonymously. As an industry this is likely to continue to grow and offer opportunities to people in distress to seek help. Methodology: In the present study, we have done a retrospective analysis of 500 queries that were posted privately to the principal author. Results focused on the demographic details, the nature of the problem and an analysis of the content of the queries. The study discusses how the findings may be used to better understand the perceptions, concerns, and stated needs of people accessing online portals for sexual problems. This should also help equip counsellors interested in this field. Results: The study clearly brought out the gender differences among those accessing online health care portals for sexual issues. A majority of the queries were from men asking about issues related to size and curvature of penis, masturbation, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction. Many of these queries stemmed from the lack of correct scientific knowledge which led to health anxieties including frustration, depression, and low self-esteem.