title: The web-surfing bariatic patient: the role of the internet in the decision-making process.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health-related information on the Internet is constantly increasing, but its quality and accountability are difficult to assess. Patients browse the Net to get more information, but the impact of the Internet on their decisions about surgical techniques, referral centers, or surgeon choice are still not clear. This study aimed to describe the role of the Internet in the decision-making process of obese patients seeking bariatric surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and twelve candidates for bariatric surgery were asked to answer a questionnaire evaluating their access to the Internet, the usefulness and trustworthiness of Internet-retrieved information, the verification of the information, and the role of the information in the decision-making process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and twelve patients answered the questionnaire. Of these, 95.1% had access to the Internet and 77.8% reported having researched about bariatric surgery. Their main interests were the surgical techniques (81.4%) and other patients' experiences (72.3%). The favorite Web sites were those affiliated to public hospitals or edited by other patients. The accountability of the e-information was mainly evaluated by discussion with the general practitioner (GP) (83.0%) or family members and friends (46.8%). One patient in four decided to undergo bariatric surgery mainly based on e-information, while discussion about treatment options with the GP and the hospital reputation were taken into account in 77.8 and 51.7% of cases, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients seeking bariatric surgery search for health information online. E-information seems to have an important role in the decision-making process of patients who are candidates for bariatric surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Surgery, Hôpital Joseph Ducuing, 15 rue Varsovie, 31000, Toulouse, France, lpaolino@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Genser
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fritsch
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De' Angelis
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Azoulay
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazzati
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires