Patient use of the Internet for health care information in Switzerland.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine for the first time the frequency of Internet use for medical purposes by patients in Switzerland.


METHODS
In 2001 over a period of one month, 1604 patients at 8 medical practices in Switzerland completed a self-administered questionnaire on their access to the Internet and any search for medical information using this media. The attending physician supplied the patient's diagnosis and information on the severity of the disorder motivating the visit using a separate questionnaire.


RESULTS
46% of the patients included in the study had a personal computer, 33% had an Internet connection and 10% used the Internet to find medical information. Age was inversely associated with the probability of having an Internet access, whereas educational level and command of the English language were factors directly associated with this. Among those patients with access to the Internet, young adults (25 to 44 years) and those with knowledge of the English language searched for medical information significantly more frequently. Furthermore, patients attending urban medical practices and those with a more severe level of disease more often sought health care information on the Internet.


CONCLUSIONS
The proportion of patients in Switzerland who search for medical information on the Internet is similar to the rates observed in European English-speaking countries. The Internet allows patients to actively search for information concerning their own health problems but is not currently the most common source of information used by patients. Since health professionals generate, directly or indirectly, most of the medical information published on the Internet, additional research is needed to better understand patients' needs and expectations concerning medical information using this media.
Jeannot
Jean-Gabriel
JG
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne, Switzerland. jean-gabriel.jeannot@ne.ch
Froehlich
Florian
F
Wietlisbach
Vincent
V
Burnand
Bernard
B
Terraz
Olivier
O
Vader
John-Paul
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland