Knowledge, Access and Use of Internet-Based Health Information for Personal Healthcare among Employees of the Foremost Nigerian University

Abstract

Background: Accessibility and use of the internet-based health information are vital concepts in healthcare delivery. The Internet is changing not only the way patients get health information, but the way they interact with their healthcare providers and others alike. Several studies have explored the use of the Internet by the healthcare providers. However little is known about the extent to which individual patients use the Internet for their own personal healthcare information needs. Objective: This present study determined basic IT knowledge, skills and access to internet-based health information to address personal healthcare needs of the University of Ibadan employees. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that deployed multi-stage sampling techniques. Result: Four hundred and two (82.0%) of the 488 questionnaires distributed were analyzed. There were more (292, 72.6%) non-teaching participants in the study. All (402, 100%) participants were conversant with internet-based health information which was reported to have met their basic health needs. They all (402, 100%) admitted that internet-based health information could be easily understood, and they mostly sought for it to equip themselves with prior knowledge on their ailments. However, the majority (398, 97.0%) searched for internet-based health information because they reported to have lost confidence in their healthcare providers. Conclusion: It is obvious from this study that most employees of University of Ibadan appreciated the importance of internet-based health information for personal healthcare and seek it for diverse personal reasons. The outcome of this study has the potentials to prepare healthcare professionals for dealing appropriately with internet-informed patients and restore their confidence. The Nigerian healthcare systems need to formulate policies on access and use of internet-based health information by their patients.