title: A study of Internet searches for medical information in dermatology patients: The patient-physician relationship.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of the Internet to search for medical information is considered by some physicians as an invasion of their medical domain and a reflection of a lack of trust in their advice and recommendations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this study was to estimate the amount of medical information gathered from the Internet and to establish whether these online searches reflect a lower degree of patient satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted among 175 patients seen at the melanoma and psoriasis units of San Cecilio University Hospital in Granada, Spain between May 2010 and December 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Online searches for medical information were performed by 44.4% of patients who returned correctly completed questionnaires. The main reasons given for these searches were to complement appropriate information provided by the physician (67.3%) and to gather information before consultation with the physician (36.5%). Variables associated with the search for medical information on the Internet in the multivariate analysis were a higher educational level, a higher score on two items in the Need for Cognition Scale, and consultation of mass media other than the Internet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studies with larger numbers of patients and other diseases, however, are required to confirm these results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The search for medical information is a widespread reality among patients with psoriasis and melanoma and it is not associated with a poor relationship with the physician. Dermatologists can play a beneficial role by recommending trustworthy Internet sites during the patient's visit and by promoting the development of pages by scientific societies to provide high-quality information.
authors: Dermatology Department, San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada, Spain.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Orgaz-Molina
authors: GranadaSchool of Medicine, Granada University, Spain.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cotugno
authors: PinosPuente Health-Care Centre, Granada.
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Girón-Prieto
authors: GranadaSchool of Medicine, Granada University, Spain.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Arrabal-Polo
authors: Dermatology Department, San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada, Spain.
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Ruiz-Carrascosa
authors: GranadaSchool of Medicine, Granada University, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Buendía-Eisman
authors: Dermatology Department, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Spain. Electronic address: salvadorarias@hotmail.es.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Arias-Santiago
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003880:Dermatology; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008545:Melanoma / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000523:psychology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Información médica; Internet; Medical information; Melanoma; Psoriasis