Internet use in patients with cardiovascular diseases: Bad Berka Cross‐Sectional Study (BABSY). Issue 10 (20th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ohlow, M.‐A.; Brunelli, M.; Lauer, B.
• Is Part Of: International journal of clinical practice. Volume 67:Issue 10(2013)
• Page Start: 990
• Page End: 995
• Publication Date: 2013-09-20
• Subjects: Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.12162
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-5031

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ijcp12162-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="ijcp12162-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Internet has become a significant resource for dissemination of medical information. We sought to investigate prevalence and usage patterns of Internet access among consecutive patients with cardiovascular diseases.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijcp12162-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A cross‐sectional study was performed using a questionnaire as study tool. Among patients with Internet access, the type of health information sought and the impact of these on daily life were assessed.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijcp12162-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Of 1063 patients invited to the study, 1000 patients [68% male gender, mean age 66 ± 11 years (range 27–83 years)] agreed to complete the questionnaire. 216/1000 (21.6%) used Internet to obtain information related to their disease. The patient education was graded as: low (15%), medium (66%) and high (19%). Reasons for Internet use were as follows: 24‐h availability 142/216 (65.7%); free of charge 58/216 (26.9%); and anonymity 50/216 (23.2%). Younger (≤ 66 years) age (35.2% vs. 15.3%; p = 0.0001), male gender (24.6% vs. 15.4%; p = 0.001) and higher education level (49.4% vs. 16.1%; p = 0.001) were significantly associated with Internet use. 30.6% (66/216) of Internet users changed their individual health behaviour attributable to information found on the Internet. However, this was not related to age, gender or level of education (p = 0.5, p = 0.6 and p = 0.4, respectively). Patients without Internet use obtain health information mainly from the pharmacist (62%) or from their treating physician (58%).</p> </sec> <sec id="ijcp12162-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>A relevant number of patients with cardiovascular disease access the Internet for health information. The impact of such information on health‐related behaviour in daily life was low.</p> </sec> </abstract>