title: Tendency of cancer patients and their relatives to use internet for health-related searches: Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to reveal the habits of using internet by cancer patients and their relatives to access health-related information and services in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 18-item questionnaire survey was applied in cancer patients and their relatives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1106 patients (male, 37.3%, and female, 62.7%) and their relatives were included in the study. The responders had been using internet to obtain health information about oncological diseases, once a month (34.2%), 1-2 times a week (27.4%) or 2-3 times a month (21.9%). After diagnosis of cancer was made, participants more frequently (64.4%) investigated health-related issues, while 64.9% of them considered internet as an important search tool, and 16.7% of them had thought to give up cancer therapy under the influence of internet information. Some (33.1%) participants had used herbal medicine, and 16.7% of them had learnt these herbal products from internet. Still 12.7% of them had not questioned the accuracy of internet information, while 26.9% of them indicated that they had not shared the internet information about cancer with their physicians, and 13 % of them searched information in internet without asking their physicians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cancer patients and their relatives showed a higher tendency to use health-related internet information which may mislead them, and can result in treatment incompliance. Health professionals should offer evidence-based information to the patients and their relatives through internet.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Kahramanmaras Necip Fazil City Hospital, Kahramanmaras, Turkey.
authors: Erdinc
authors: E
authors: Nayir
authors: Ozgur
authors: O
authors: Tanriverdi
authors: Yusuf
authors: Y
authors: Karakas
authors: Saadettin
authors: S
authors: Kilickap
authors: Nazim
authors: N
authors: Serdar Turhal
authors: Nilufer
authors: N
authors: Avci
authors: Kerem
authors: K
authors: Okutur
authors: Dogan
authors: D
authors: Koca
authors: Dilek
authors: D
authors: Erdem
authors: Huseyin
authors: H
authors: Abali
authors: Deniz
authors: D
authors: Yamac
authors: Cemil
authors: C
authors: Bilir
authors: Turgut
authors: T
authors: Kacan
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic