Article Figures & Data
Tables
Variable (n = 718) n % Sex
Male
Female
238
480
33.15
66.85Age
Mean age, years (SD)
18–25
26–35
36–45
46–60
61–7540
201
123
122
182
90(15)
27.99
17.13
16.99
25.35
12.53Education level
Primary school
Middle school
High school
College
Professional
7
59
203
241
208
0.97
8.22
28.27
33.57
28.97Frequency of internet use
Monthly
Weekly
Daily
More than once a day
1
18
237
462
0.14
2.51
33.01
64.35Frequency of internet use to gather health information
Usually not
Usually
Always
308
323
87
42.90
44.99
12.12Frequency of GP consultations
Never
Less than once a year
One to several times a year
Monthly
More than once a month
15
152
512
36
3
2.09
21.17
71.31
5.01
0.42Note: Some variables may not add to 100% due to of rounding.
- Table 2. Responders’ answers to the statements: 'After my online search to gather health information …'
Statements Never Usually not Usually Always n (%) n (%) n (%) n (%) I go to the GP (n = 630) 61 (9.68) 211 (33.49) 288 (45.71) 70 (11.11) I do not go to the GP although this was the original plan before the search (n = 595) 248 (41.68) 265 (44.54) 78 (13.11) 4 (0.67) I am more likely to visit the GP than I intended before the search (n = 603) 132 (21.89) 312 (51.74) 144 (23.88) 15 (2.49) I start medication without consulting a doctor (n = 661) 467 (70.65) 151 (22.84) 40 (6.05) 3 (0.45) I do not think I need medication although I did think this before the search (n = 546) 204 (37.36) 269 (49.27) 70 (12.82) 3 (0.55) I am reassured (n = 601) 74 (12.31) 284 (47.25) 226 (37.60) 17 (2.83) My worries about my symptoms increase (n = 634) 116 (18.30) 329 (51.89) 174 (27.44) 15 (2.37) I have the feeling my symptoms got worse (n = 630) 254 (40.32) 298 (47.30) 69 (10.95) 9 (1.43) I have the feeling my symptoms got better (n = 595) 206 (34.62) 314 (52.77) 69 (11.60) 6 (1.01) I notice additional complaints I did not notice before the search (n = 630) 226 (35.87) 299 (47.46) 98 (15.56) 7 (1.11) I have more confidence in my GP than before the search (n = 519) 93 (17.92) 131 (25.24) 201 (38.73) 94 (18.11) I have less confidence in my GP than before the search (n = 596) 329 (55.20) 239 (40.10) 23 (3.86) 5 (0.84) Note: Some variables may not add to 100% due to rounding.
- Table 3. The correlation between the independent variables and the effects of online searching: multiple regression analysis.
Variable F R2 Age category, b Degree, b Frequency of internet use, b Frequency of internet use for health information, b Frequency of GP visits, b GP1 11.42a 0.08 0.07b 0.02 0.09 0.01 0.39a Not going to the GP anymore2 4.88b 0.04 0.03 0.01 −0.01 0.18a −0.12c More likely to go to the GP3 3.42b 0.03 0.03 −0.05 −0.03 0.10c 0.11 Self-medication without advice4 5.54a 0.04 −0.01 0.03 0.09 0.12b −0.08 No medication anymore5 4.72b 0.04 −0.02 −0.01 0.05 0.19a −0.06 Reassurance6 4.67b 0.04 0.03 −0.01 −0.04 0.18a −0.09 Increased anxiety7 9.50a 0.07 −0.06b 0.002 0.04 0.19a 0.22a Increased severity of symptoms 1.60 0.01 −0.02 −0.01 0.09 0.05 0.06 Decreased severity of symptoms9 2.76c 0.02 −0.03 −0.002 −0.03 0.15b −0.01 Additional symptoms10 4.48b 0.03 −0.04 0.03 0.05 0.12b 0.15b More confidence in the GP11 1.61 0.02 0.04 −0.03 −0.08 −0.05 0.10 Less confidence in the GP12 5.31a 0.04 0.01 −0.03 0.03 0.18a −0.02 ↵ b = regression coefficient. a P<0.0001. b P<0.01. a P<0.05.
Statements 'After my online search for health information …':
↵ 1 I go to the GP
↵ 2 I do not go to the GP although this was the original plan before the search.
↵ 3 I am more likely to visit the GP than I intended before the search.
↵ 4 I start medication without consulting a doctor.
↵ 5 I do not think I need medication although I did think this before the search.
↵ 6 I am reassured.
↵ 7 My worries about my symptoms increase.
8 I have the feeling my symptoms got better.
↵ 9 I have the feeling my symptoms got worse.
↵ 10 I notice additional complaints I did not notice before the search.
↵ 11 I have more confidence in my GP than before the search.
↵ 12 I have less confidence in my GP than before the search.
- Table 4. Statements discussed with the GPs. A: statement based on the descriptive analysis of the survey’s results, B: adjusted statement based on the first four conversations with GPs
Statement 1
A. Most of my patients do not start self-medicating after their online search to gather health information.
B. Most of my patients do not start self-medicating after their online search to gather health information. If they do so, they do it mainly when they have benign symptoms or on the advice of significant others.
Statement 2
A. The online search for health information does not influence the confidence of the patient in their GP.
B. The online search for health information does not influence the confidence of the patient in their GP.
Statement 3
A. The online search for health information does not make my patients experience additional symptoms.
B. The online search for health information does not make my patients experience additional symptoms. Some people will be more likely to do so, such as patients in their 20s and 30s and patients with tendencies toward hypochondria.
Statement 4
A. The online search for health information does not influence the severity of my patient’s symptoms.
B. The online search for health information does not influence the severity of my patient’s symptoms.
Statement 5
A. I do not have the feeling that the online search for health information makes my patients more anxious.
B. I do not have the feeling that the online search for health information makes my patients more anxious, although naturally anxious people often become more anxious after the search. Moreover, this is probably the group of patients that searches the most on the internet for health information.
Statement 6
A. If I know that my patient searched online to gather health information, this will complicate the consultation.
B. If I know that my patient searched online to gather health information, this will not influence the consultation in a negative way. First of all, there is the possibility that we will come together to a broader differential diagnosis. Secondly, I can easily respond to the patient’s ideas, concerns, and expectations and patients will hesitate less to ask for specific diagnostic tests. This can lead to an interesting dialogue.
Statement 7
A. If patients tell me about the information they found on the internet, I can discuss this during the assessment and plan. For example, I can give them websites where they can find health information in the future.
B. If patients tell me about the information they found on the internet, I will put that information in perspective. For example, I can give them websites where they can find health information in the future.