title: Internet use among inflammatory bowel disease patients: an Italian multicenter survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The internet has been increasingly used as a resource for accessing health-related information. A recent US survey found that approximately half of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in an IBD clinic use the internet to gather IBD-specific information.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of the internet among Italian IBD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed in seven Italian IBD referral centers by using a 28-item anonymous questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 495 questionnaires were returned for analysis, in which 305 of 495 patients (61.6%) indicated that they are able to access the internet. A large proportion used the internet to gather health-related information (180 of 305, 59.1%) and IBD-related information (226 of 305, 74.2%). The use of the internet increased significantly with level of education (P<0.0001) and household income (P<0.0001). In addition, the use of the internet to gather IBD-related information increased significantly with the increase of disease activity and severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately half of the patients in Italian IBD referral centers used the internet to gather IBD-related information. This use positively correlated with disease activity and severity. The great majority of patients indicated that it was very important for IBD referral centers to have their own IBD-dedicated website.
authors: Policlinico Umberto I, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Erika
authors: E
authors: Angelucci
authors: Ambrogio
authors: A
authors: Orlando
authors: Sandro
authors: S
authors: Ardizzone
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Guidi
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Sorrentino
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Fries
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Astegiano
authors: Orsola
authors: O
authors: Sociale
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Cesarini
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Renna
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Cassinotti
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Marzo
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Quaglia
authors: Maria Donata
authors: MD
authors: Sergi
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Simondi
authors: Piero
authors: P
authors: Vernia
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Malesci
authors: Silvio
authors: S
authors: Danese
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D033181:Information Dissemination; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult