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Virtual Medical Care: How Are Our Patients Using Online Health Information?

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Abstract

An increasing percentage of Internet users are seeking health information online. The purpose of our study was to determine the extent of Internet access and online health-seeking and the feasibility of implementing Internet services for our urban, residency-based practice. Using a self-administered survey, we obtained information on use of the Internet, demographics and socioeconomic profile, presence of a chronic medical condition and self-rated health from 300 consecutive patients. Complete surveys were obtained by 203 (68 percent). Responses were compared based on demographic, socioeconomic, and medical variables using Chi-square analysis. Results showed that our sample population tended to be under age 50, female, non-Hispanic Black, low income, and healthy. Seventy-seven percent of respondents had accessed the Internet at least once, 79 percent had used the Internet to find health-related information, 73 percent used the online information to make a health-related decision, 50 percent shared the information with their provider. In conclusion, we confirmed a high rate of Internet usage in our specific patient population, characterized by low socioeconomic status, low education level, and high minority percentages. Our patients not only access online health information, but also make changes based on this information, with only about half of all patients sharing this information with their physicians. It is unclear how this system of ‘virtual medical care’ influences overall patient health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Chair of Family Medicine, the Medical University of South Carolina, 250192, 295 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Heather A. Liszka MD, MS, Terrence E. Steyer MD & William J. Hueston MD

Authors
  1. Heather A. Liszka MD, MS
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  2. Terrence E. Steyer MD
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  3. William J. Hueston MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heather A. Liszka MD, MS.

Additional information

Heather A. Liszka and Terrence E. Steyer are Assistant Professors of Family Medicine, William J. Hueston is Professor and Department Chair of Family Medicine, all at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.

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Liszka, H.A., Steyer, T.E. & Hueston, W.J. Virtual Medical Care: How Are Our Patients Using Online Health Information?. J Community Health 31, 368–378 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-006-9019-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-006-9019-3

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