title: Evaluation of health-related Internet use in Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An eHealth survey was conducted in a major Bavarian region in order to evaluate health-related Internet use in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  A specific questionnaire was developed by the authors to collect sociodemographic data as well as data on general and health-related Internet use. This questionnaire was distributed to patients visiting medical practices in the above mentioned Bavarian region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Whereas many Internet users look for health-related information and products on the Internet, more advanced web-based techniques such as chat rooms and electronic patient records are hardly used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although modern information technologies have the potential to enable citizens to handle their own health-related information in a self-determined and informed manner, at present the general population in Germany is hardly taking this opportunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics, Friedrich-Alexander-University, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. christine.birkmann@mik.imed.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Birkmann
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dumitru
authors.forename: H-U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Prokosch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires