title: Cancer Patients and the Internet: a Survey Among German Cancer Patients.
abstract: An increasing number of patients and relatives use the Internet to get additional or initial information about their disease. The aim of the study was to reevaluate the Internet usage among German cancer patients. Using a standardized questionnaire, we did an anonymous survey on patients attending a series of lectures on complementary medicine in 2014. We received 255 questionnaires. Nearly 80 % of the participants stated that they used the Internet to read up information about health or medicine issues. There was no significant difference regarding gender, age, or status (patient, current treatment/former treatment; relatives). Most users use the Internet in order to get additional information after a consultation with a physician (82.2 %). Important qualities from the view of the patient are a trustable source (65.3 %), information from experts (59.6 %), and actual information (52.8 %). There is an increasing number of patients in Germany looking for information in the Internet mostly in the intention of getting additional information. Yet, as the quality of information is heterogeneous, false information may lead to distrust in the doctor or wrong decision-making. Accordingly, organizations working on improving quality of cancer care should engage in conveying comprehensive and actual information adapted to the needs of patients. Physicians should know trustful websites for referral of patients.
authors.affiliation: Working Group Integrative Oncology, Dr. Senckenberg Chronomedical Institute, J.W. Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Marie-Desiree
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ebel
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Society, Kuno-Fischer-Str. 8, 14057, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stellamanns
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Society, Kuno-Fischer-Str. 8, 14057, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Keinki
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Society, Kuno-Fischer-Str. 8, 14057, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ivonne
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rudolph
authors.affiliation: Working Group Integrative Oncology, Dr. Senckenberg Chronomedical Institute, J.W. Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. huebner@med.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huebner
mesh_terms: D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010820:Physicians; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cancer patients; Information; Internet