title: [Adolescents ask physicians on the Internet: a one-year survey of adolescents' questions on health issues in an Internet forum].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the past decade, the internet has become a major information resource in various domains of life and a communication venue among young people and adolescents who seek health information via the internet. Until now, the contents of Israeli adolescents' questions regarding health issues on internet sites have not been published.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  (1) A survey of the characteristics of adolescents who seek health information and their questions presented to the Ynet forum "The body during adolescence". In this forum physicians experienced in adolescent medicine respond to these questions and to comments of other forum participants. (2) Presentation of problematic issues in professionals' responses to health questions in the internet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey of a representative sample of contacts to the Ynet forum "The body during adolescence" during 2009 gathering information on gender and age of contacting person, parents' contacts, contacts' contents and physicians responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 412 contacts were surveyed, 210 (51%) females, aged 14-17 years--60%, 10-13 years--17% and 18-21 years 15%. Parents' questions appeared in 39 (9%) of contacts. Of all contacts, 44% related to sexuality issues and 17% related to self image and body composition. The physicians provided complete responses to 60% of the contacts, while in 40% the physician's responses included referral to clinical medical consultation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An internet health forum enables adolescents and parents to ask questions and raise doubts and anxieties regarding various health issues without the fear of being exposed and enables them to express their concerns face-to-face with a healthcare provider Sensitive issues regarding sexuality and self-image, which are not raised frequently during clinical encounters, are expressed and receive professional responses in the forum. Notwithstanding the significance of a rapid professional contribution, physicians responding to contacts in internet forums need to recognize the barrier related to professional communication with persons whom they have not met and for whom follow-up is impossible.
authors.affiliation: drhardoff@gmail.com
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hardoff
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Nurit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pilo
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greilsammer
authors.forename: Shmuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rigler
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet / Q000639:trends*; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000639:trends*; D046468:Sexual Development; D055815:Young Adult