[Investigation of trends in patients with pollinosis using the website].
BACKGROUND
The information about Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) from the Internet is growing these days. We examined the effects of the pollen information on people who have JCP.


METHODS
We conducted web research from 2003 to 2006 between February 1st and April 30th on a pharmaceutical company's website.


RESULTS
On a gender basis, women tended to seek information about JCP more than men did. Furthermore, women consulted a doctor when the amount of pollen was large, while men didn't. People who made wide use of the pollen information had a behavioral tendency to seek consultation and performed many kinds of self-care for their own disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The information for JCP using the website has enormous effects on people's lives. We should give more meaningful information and patients should take more as well.
Yamabe
Eri
E
Graduate School of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University.
Fujii
Tsukasa
T
Ogino
Satoshi
S
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011058:Pollen; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000393:Air Pollutants