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Patients' increasing search for health information on internet.
Schee, E. van der, Delnoij, D. Patients' increasing search for health information on internet. European Journal of Public Health: 2004, 14(4 Suppl.) 51. Abstract. 12 th Annual EUPHA meeting: Urbanisation and health: new challenges in health promotion and prevention in Oslo, Norway, 7-9 october 2004.
Background: The number of web sites on the internet, providing health information, discussion
groups, internet doctors or selling drugs is increasing fast. In 2001, the number was rated over
100.000 (Risk and Dzenowagis, 2001). The growing number of websites on these topics might be
expected to match growing numbers of people using the internet to search for health information.
However, no knowledge is available on this development. Aim: To monitor the development in the use
of internet by the general public concerning health and health information over a three-yearperiod
of time (2000-2003). Methods: In 2000 and in 2003 data about using internet for health information
was collected by sending a postal questionnaire to the ‘Health Care Consumer Panel’. This panel
consists of approximately 1500 households and forms a representative sample of the Dutch population.
Respondents were asked about their search for health information,
whether they visited on line discussion groups, emailed their doctor or had ordered health-products
(drugs and vitamins). SPSS was used for analysing the data. Results: This study learned that people
significantly more often use the internet to search for health information in 2003 (53%) than in
2000 (40%). The number of people in Dutch society using the internet
for joining online discussion groups, emailing a physician and ordering health related products is
still quite small. Of these actions only ordering medicine or health products (like vitamins)
through the internet significantly increased (0,7% in 2000 vs 4,3% in 2003). A noticeable finding is
that regardless of age, gender or education, drugs or health related products were significantly
ordered more often in 2003 by all groups. Conclusions: The population of internetters searching for
health information is still growing. This growing population searching for health information
through the internet has an impact on health and health care. First of all, patients say they change
their own behaviour (healthier living, but also their treatment) on the basis of information found
on the internet. Secondly, access to health information on the internet strengthens the position of
patients in health care, i.e. leads to patient empowerment (van Rijen, 2000). It is important for
health care providers to be aware of these changes. An outcome of this research which might lead to
some concern in the future is the fact that the ordering of drugs and health products has increased
in all layers of society. No pharmacist or doctor can monitor the use of drugs by patients, when
they are simply ordering them on the internet.
groups, internet doctors or selling drugs is increasing fast. In 2001, the number was rated over
100.000 (Risk and Dzenowagis, 2001). The growing number of websites on these topics might be
expected to match growing numbers of people using the internet to search for health information.
However, no knowledge is available on this development. Aim: To monitor the development in the use
of internet by the general public concerning health and health information over a three-yearperiod
of time (2000-2003). Methods: In 2000 and in 2003 data about using internet for health information
was collected by sending a postal questionnaire to the ‘Health Care Consumer Panel’. This panel
consists of approximately 1500 households and forms a representative sample of the Dutch population.
Respondents were asked about their search for health information,
whether they visited on line discussion groups, emailed their doctor or had ordered health-products
(drugs and vitamins). SPSS was used for analysing the data. Results: This study learned that people
significantly more often use the internet to search for health information in 2003 (53%) than in
2000 (40%). The number of people in Dutch society using the internet
for joining online discussion groups, emailing a physician and ordering health related products is
still quite small. Of these actions only ordering medicine or health products (like vitamins)
through the internet significantly increased (0,7% in 2000 vs 4,3% in 2003). A noticeable finding is
that regardless of age, gender or education, drugs or health related products were significantly
ordered more often in 2003 by all groups. Conclusions: The population of internetters searching for
health information is still growing. This growing population searching for health information
through the internet has an impact on health and health care. First of all, patients say they change
their own behaviour (healthier living, but also their treatment) on the basis of information found
on the internet. Secondly, access to health information on the internet strengthens the position of
patients in health care, i.e. leads to patient empowerment (van Rijen, 2000). It is important for
health care providers to be aware of these changes. An outcome of this research which might lead to
some concern in the future is the fact that the ordering of drugs and health products has increased
in all layers of society. No pharmacist or doctor can monitor the use of drugs by patients, when
they are simply ordering them on the internet.
Background: The number of web sites on the internet, providing health information, discussion
groups, internet doctors or selling drugs is increasing fast. In 2001, the number was rated over
100.000 (Risk and Dzenowagis, 2001). The growing number of websites on these topics might be
expected to match growing numbers of people using the internet to search for health information.
However, no knowledge is available on this development. Aim: To monitor the development in the use
of internet by the general public concerning health and health information over a three-yearperiod
of time (2000-2003). Methods: In 2000 and in 2003 data about using internet for health information
was collected by sending a postal questionnaire to the ‘Health Care Consumer Panel’. This panel
consists of approximately 1500 households and forms a representative sample of the Dutch population.
Respondents were asked about their search for health information,
whether they visited on line discussion groups, emailed their doctor or had ordered health-products
(drugs and vitamins). SPSS was used for analysing the data. Results: This study learned that people
significantly more often use the internet to search for health information in 2003 (53%) than in
2000 (40%). The number of people in Dutch society using the internet
for joining online discussion groups, emailing a physician and ordering health related products is
still quite small. Of these actions only ordering medicine or health products (like vitamins)
through the internet significantly increased (0,7% in 2000 vs 4,3% in 2003). A noticeable finding is
that regardless of age, gender or education, drugs or health related products were significantly
ordered more often in 2003 by all groups. Conclusions: The population of internetters searching for
health information is still growing. This growing population searching for health information
through the internet has an impact on health and health care. First of all, patients say they change
their own behaviour (healthier living, but also their treatment) on the basis of information found
on the internet. Secondly, access to health information on the internet strengthens the position of
patients in health care, i.e. leads to patient empowerment (van Rijen, 2000). It is important for
health care providers to be aware of these changes. An outcome of this research which might lead to
some concern in the future is the fact that the ordering of drugs and health products has increased
in all layers of society. No pharmacist or doctor can monitor the use of drugs by patients, when
they are simply ordering them on the internet.
groups, internet doctors or selling drugs is increasing fast. In 2001, the number was rated over
100.000 (Risk and Dzenowagis, 2001). The growing number of websites on these topics might be
expected to match growing numbers of people using the internet to search for health information.
However, no knowledge is available on this development. Aim: To monitor the development in the use
of internet by the general public concerning health and health information over a three-yearperiod
of time (2000-2003). Methods: In 2000 and in 2003 data about using internet for health information
was collected by sending a postal questionnaire to the ‘Health Care Consumer Panel’. This panel
consists of approximately 1500 households and forms a representative sample of the Dutch population.
Respondents were asked about their search for health information,
whether they visited on line discussion groups, emailed their doctor or had ordered health-products
(drugs and vitamins). SPSS was used for analysing the data. Results: This study learned that people
significantly more often use the internet to search for health information in 2003 (53%) than in
2000 (40%). The number of people in Dutch society using the internet
for joining online discussion groups, emailing a physician and ordering health related products is
still quite small. Of these actions only ordering medicine or health products (like vitamins)
through the internet significantly increased (0,7% in 2000 vs 4,3% in 2003). A noticeable finding is
that regardless of age, gender or education, drugs or health related products were significantly
ordered more often in 2003 by all groups. Conclusions: The population of internetters searching for
health information is still growing. This growing population searching for health information
through the internet has an impact on health and health care. First of all, patients say they change
their own behaviour (healthier living, but also their treatment) on the basis of information found
on the internet. Secondly, access to health information on the internet strengthens the position of
patients in health care, i.e. leads to patient empowerment (van Rijen, 2000). It is important for
health care providers to be aware of these changes. An outcome of this research which might lead to
some concern in the future is the fact that the ordering of drugs and health products has increased
in all layers of society. No pharmacist or doctor can monitor the use of drugs by patients, when
they are simply ordering them on the internet.
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