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Internet use by a multidisciplinary transplant clinic population
Douglas P Slakey1, Sepehr Nowfar
1Tulane University Health Sciences Center, Tulane Center for Abdominal Transplantation, New Orleans, LA, USA. dslakey@tulane.edu.
Transplantation
|January 25, 2003
Summary
Patient internet use is common, especially among those with higher education. Many patients search online for doctor information and transplant survival results, highlighting the need for physician guidelines on internet use.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Health Services Research
- Patient Education
Background:
- Understanding patient internet utilization is crucial for modern healthcare.
- Socioeconomic factors and access barriers significantly influence patient engagement with online health information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patterns of patient internet use.
- To identify socioeconomic and other barriers impacting patient internet access and utilization.
Main Methods:
- A 44-item questionnaire was administered to patients at a transplant clinic in April 2001.
- Data were collected from 170 patients who completed the survey.
Main Results:
- 56% of surveyed patients had internet access.
- Internet access and use were higher among Caucasian patients and strongly correlated with higher education levels.
- Patients utilized the internet to research physicians (22%) and transplant survival data (35%).
Conclusions:
- Patients actively use the internet for health information, including doctor research and treatment outcomes.
- Healthcare providers should develop guidelines for patient internet use in education and communication.
- The findings underscore the digital divide and the importance of equitable access to online health resources.