title: 'I need her to be a doctor': patients' experiences of presenting health information from the internet in GP consultations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients are increasingly using the internet for health-related information and may bring this to a GP consultation. There is scant information about why patients do this and what they expect from their GP.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to explore patients'  motivation in presenting information, their perception of the GP's response and what they wanted from their doctor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study based in North London involving patients with experience of bringing health information from the internet to their  GP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews using a critical incident technique, recorded, transcribed verbatim, and subjected to thematic analysis by a multidisciplinary team of researchers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six interviews were completed.  Participants reported using the internet to become better informed about their health and hence make best use of the limited time available with the GP and to enable the GP to take their problem more seriously. Patients expected their GP to acknowledge the information; discuss, explain, or  contextualise it; and offer a professional opinion. Patients tended to prioritise the GP opinion over the internet information. However, if the GP appeared disinterested, dismissive or patronising patients reported damage to the doctor-patient relationship, occasionally to the extent  of seeking a second opinion or changing their doctor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first in-depth qualitative study to explore why patients present internet information to their GP within the consultation and what they want when they do this. This information should help GPs  respond appropriately in such circumstances.
authors.affiliation: e-Health Unit, Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, London, UK. parvathy@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Parvathy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bowes
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: Sanjiv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahluwalia
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012017:Referral and Consultation