Comparison of Physicians' and Patients' Perception on the Effect of Internet Health Information / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: To determine the differences between the patient's and physicians' views of the effects of internet health information on the physician-patient relationship. METHODS: An online survey was carried out with 25 items developed by revising the questionnaire of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising to accommodate the internet health information. The respondents were 671 patients who were active participants in online patient communities and 493 physicians who were the professors of medical schools and practicing physicians. RESULTS: Most of the patients were positive toward the Internet Health Information saying that it gives them advice from a doctor with self-confidence, allows them to follow their doctor's directions well, obtain more medical treatment after retrieving the information, etc. In contrast, physicians perceived that the internet health information may have variety of negative effects, such as increasing the healthcare cost, unnecessary clinic visits and undermining of the doctor-patient relationship. There were significant differences in the perspectives between the physicians and patients. CONCLUSION: It will be necessary to ensure experts provide internet health information, which will have beneficial effects on the quality of care, physician-patient relationship, and health service utilization.

The Perception of the Patients on the Effects of Internet Health Information on the Doctor-Patient Relationship / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to determine patient's views of the effects of internet health information on the doctor-patient relationship. METHODS: Online survey with 26 items was conducted which was developed by revising the questionnaire of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising to accommodate to the internet health information. Members of the active online patients communities were solicited by e-mail. RESULTS: Most of them gave an affirmative answer on Internet Health Information saying that it makes them get advice from doctor with self-confidence, follow their doctor's direction well, get more medical treatment after retrieving the information and so on. By contrast, physicians perceived that internet health information may have variety of negative effects according to the preceding research. CONCLUSIONS: There are the differences of perspectives between physicians and patients. Therefore it will be necessary to make the experts' intervention in the provision of internet health information, which will have good effects on quality of care, doctor-patient relationship, and health service utilization.