Consumer Utilization of Internet Based Health Resources

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Consumer Utilization of Internet Based Health
Resources

• Group project in part fulfilment for HEIN701,
  Postgraduate Diploma of Health Informatics,
  University of Otago

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Researchers

• B. Brenner
• R. Browne
• M. Guphtar
• J. Krisjanous
• P. McHugh
• S. van Lill
• Study Leader D. Abernethy

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Goals

• To evaluate health consumer use of internet based
  resources infive New Zealand health settings.

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Background

• Phenomenal growth in the Internet since mid-90s
  with NZ amongst top ten countries for internet
  connection
• Health internet is one of the fastest growing
  uses of the internet
• There is little research in health consumer use
  of Internet to date

See References
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Concerns

• Concern that quality and reliability of health
  information can be poor
• Altered base for health professional/ consumer
  relationship may be empowering or considered a
  threat

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Research Design

• A non-random, questionnaire-based survey design
  was used
• Ethical approval obtained
• Sample selected from 5 health settings
  Participation was voluntary, anonymous and based
  on informed consent

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Results Description of Sample

• Sample size of 183
• X F and Y M
• Urban / Provincial
• Age distribution
• Ethnic distribution
• Educational level

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Results Age and Internet Use
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Results Gender and Internet Use
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Results Education and Internet Use
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Results General Uses of the Internet
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Results Reasons for Accessing Health Information
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Results Quality and Usefulness of Information
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Results frequency of accessing information
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Limitations of the Study

• Non-random sample selection
• Sample selection skewed towards females
• ? Representative of the NZ population
• Small sample sizes in some categories e.g. ethnic
  group, under 20s
• Information is largely descriptive
• Time constraints limited opportunity to explore
  the subject in-depth

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Discussion Main findings (1)

• Access to Internet use positively correlated to
  educational status and socio-economic status
• Fifty percent of users use Internet for accessing
  Health information
• Mean frequency of access is low (79 only monthly
  or less than once/month)

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Discussion Main findings (2)

• Most access Internet to gather advice on existing
  health problem
• Almost half discuss this information with health
  care provider
• High ratings for quality by consumers conflict
  with reports of quality in current professional
  literature

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General Conclusions

• Health Internet a new but rapidly growing field
• Great potential for good-use and misuse
• Complete lack of control over Health Information
  posted
• Much of the information posted is commercially
  motivated

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Consumer Issues - Conclusions

• Difficult for health consumers to critically
  evaulate information
• Important health and safety issues regarding
  self diagnosis, self treatment and use of
  unproven remedies
• Health consumer Internet use needs to be
  acknowledged and incorporated into design of
  clinical practice.

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Acknowldegements

• David Abernethy - study leader
• Institutions providing research access
• Capital Coast Health, Welliington
• Midcentral Health, Levin
• Gisborne Public Hospital