How much interest is the Internet to patients?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Sexual Health

Background:

• Genitourinary (GU) medicine clinics provide essential services for sexual health.
• The internet has become a significant source of health information.
• Assessing patient internet accessibility and interest is crucial for modern healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate internet accessibility among patients at GU medicine clinics.
• To gauge patient interest in utilizing online resources for sexual health.
• To identify potential patient concerns regarding online confidentiality.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based survey was administered to patients.
• The study was conducted across five GU medicine clinics in England.
• Data collection occurred in 1999.

Main Results:

• In 1999, 41% of GU clinic patients had internet access, varying by clinic.
• Internet access was more prevalent in younger patients and less common among women and Black Caribbean patients.
• A significant portion of patients expressed interest in using the internet for sexual health information (60%), accessing clinic details (64%), booking appointments (64%), and obtaining test results (63%).
• One in ten patients with internet access had already used it to research their condition.
• Nearly a quarter of patients desired an interactive website.

Conclusions:

• A substantial number of patients attending GU clinics possess internet access.
• The internet presents opportunities for enhancing health education and service delivery within GU medicine.
• Patient interest suggests a demand for online engagement in sexual healthcare.