Use of Internet Resources by Patients Awaiting Gastroenterology Consultation

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to better comprehend the medical information on the internet sought by outpatients awaiting initial gastroenterology consultation and whether wait times affect internet use. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 87 gastroenterology outpatients awaiting consultation was performed at a tertiary care centre. Results: Fifty-two patients (60%) used the internet for medical information. The mean age of patients using the internet was 41 years compared to those not using the internet which was 60 years (p<0.0001). The internet was used by 71% of females and 47% of males (p<0.05). The internet was sought by 33% with less than secondary school, 59% with secondary school, 66% with a college or undergraduate degree, and 100% with a postgraduate degree (p=0.14). The mean consultation wait time for patients that used the internet was 158 days and 147 days for patients that did not use the internet (p=0.60). Websites searched were medical websites in 71%, through search engines in 63%, institutional and society websites in 19%, blogs in 6%, and pharmaceutical websites in 6%. Medical information sought on the internet was symptoms and diagnosis in 85%, treatment in 62%, disease causes in 62%, coping in 27%, and prognosis in 19%. The reasons patients resorted to using the internet were personal curiosity in 75%, worsening of symptoms in 42%, wait times in 36%, lack of confidence in physicians in 13%, and at the recommendation of a physician in 10%. Patients that used the internet believed they had an underlying disease in 87% while patients not using the internet felt so in 46% (p=0.0001). Anxiety levels did not change in 77% of patients using the internet. Conclusion: Younger patients and females were more likely to use the internet. Wait times did not affect internet use. The internet is a powerful patient resource, but further physician guidance is required to assist patients in identifying reliable resources.