Health 2.0:Characteristics of health-related Internet

users

Jiménez Muñoz, Beatriz, Rovira Marcelino, Gemma.Sardenya Primary Care Center, Barcelona, Spain.

OBJECTIVE

Define the patient profile that searches on Internet about health

issues and the characteristics of these searches.

HYPOTHESIS

Population attended in primary care services uses Internet as a

guide on health issues.

health 2.0

Internet, health and society. Analysis of uses of health-related Internet in Catalonia

(2009).

The role of new technologies in obtaining information about health and its impact on

the doctor-patient relationship (2009).

Survey about equipment and use of information, technology and communication in

households (INE 2012):

Two out of three Spanish households (68%) have Internet access ( Germany 85%, Sweden

92%, Norway 93%, 95% Iceland ).

More than half also have access from mobile device.

Half of the Spanish population uses Internet daily.

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health 2.0

• Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in urban primary care

center.

• Every patient over 14 years old who consulted in primary care center

during the period August-November 2012, and agreed to participate

in the study, was selected. All them completed a self-administered

test.

• Initial n of 426 patients. Were included all who completed more than

90% of the test, resulting final n of 418 patients (1.9% void test).

• A descriptive analysis of data was performed.

Total Group Consultation: Women 55.3%, 49 years (SD 19.09).

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0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Prognosis and complications

Alternative therapies

67,9%

46,4%

34,8%

28,6%

27,7%

Nutrition

Treatments and side effects

Symptoms

Most searched issues:

health 2.0Most searched issues:

salud 2.0

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90% Web search engines

Qualified health webs

Forums and patients associations

19,2%

37,9%

85,7%

Ways of search:

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• 45.4% searched information before doctor visit and 46.3% did so after.

• 22.6% used the information found to make health decisions by their own.

• 22.1% always share the information found with their doctor.

• 78.6% would like their doctor advise them how to perform Internet search in the right

way.

50%

55%

60%

65%

70% Easily understandable69,1%

Interesting64,5%

Reliable59%

Information found:

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Lack of interest (43.8%)

No computer, Internet access

or computer skills (46.4%)

Patients who don´t use Internet for health:

More than half of our patients use Internet for health

searches.

Top searches are related with symptoms and

treatments, found through web search engines.

Only a few share the information consulted with the

doctor, but most them would like advices about health-

related Internet searches.

WWW

The profile of these patients is young people with

medium-high educational level.

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Thank you!, ¡Gracias!

“Garganta de los Infiernos” natural reserve,

Cáceres, Spain.