title: Using the Internet for information about breast cancer: a questionnaire-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the proportion of breast cancer patients that used the Internet for breast cancer information; to classify patterns of use based on patient demographics; and to evaluate whether using the Internet for this purpose was beneficial or problematic. Also to recognize whether a specific demographic group was more likely to experience problems when using the Internet for breast cancer information.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 10-item questionnaire was given to patients who attended the breast unit at the University Hospital of South Manchester between May and June 2011 following breast cancer treatment within the last 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  200 questionnaires were completed. 50.5% of patients had used the Internet for breast cancer information, with younger (p<0.001) patients with a higher household income (p<0.001) being most likely to do so. The majority (73%) found it beneficial; however 31% had experienced problems. Ethnicity affected the likelihood of experiencing problems with white patients encountering fewer problems (25%) than non-white patients (64%) (p=0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant proportion of breast cancer patients will encounter difficulties when using the Internet for breast cancer information, particularly those from ethnic minorities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health professionals need to include a discussion about Internet use in consultations with breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. sophielittlechild@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Sophie Anna
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Littlechild
authors.forename: Lester
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Breast cancer; Ethnic minorities; Health inequalities; Internet use