title: Experiences and attitudes of Dutch rheumatologists and oncologists with regard to their patients' health-related Internet use.
abstract: The objective of this study is to explore the experiences and attitudes of rheumatologists and oncologists with regard to their patients' health-related Internet use. In addition, we explored how often physicians referred their patients to health-related Internet sites. We sent a questionnaire to all the rheumatologists and oncologists in the Netherlands. The questionnaire included questions concerning demographics, experiences with patients' health-related Internet use, referral behavior, and attitudes to the consequences of patients' health-related Internet use (for patients themselves, the physician-patient relationship and the health care). The response rate was 46% (N=238). Of these respondents, 134 practiced as a rheumatologist and 104 as an oncologist. Almost all physicians encountered their patients raising information from the Internet during a consultation. They were not, however, confronted with their patients' health-related Internet use on a daily basis. Physicians had a moderately positive attitude towards the consequences of patients' health-related Internet use, the physician-patient relationship and the health care. Oncologists were significantly less positive than rheumatologists about the consequences of health-related Internet use. Most of the physicians had never (32%) or only sometimes (42%) referred a patient to a health-related Internet site. Most physicians (53%) found it difficult to stay up-to-date with reliable Internet sites for patients. Physicians are moderately positive about their patients' health-related Internet use but only seldom refer them to relevant sites. Offering an up-to-date site with accredited websites for patients might help physicians refer their patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioural Research, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500, AE, Enschede, The Netherlands, c.f.vanuden-kraan@utwente.nl.
authors.forename: Cornelia F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: van Uden-Kraan
authors.forename: Constance H C
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Drossaert
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taal
authors.forename: Wim M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Erwin R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Seydel
authors.forename: Mart A F J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van de Laar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
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