Health-related information gathering practices among outpatients Cover Image

Egészségügyi információszerzés módjai szakrendelésen megjelent betegpopuláció körében
Health-related information gathering practices among outpatients

Author(s): Regina Molnár, Zoltán Sági, Zsuzsanna Fejes, Edit Paulik, Kálmán Törőcsik, Béla Köves
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Debreceni Egyetem Politikatudományi és Szociológiai Intézet
Keywords: health-related information; internet; communication; doctor-patient relationship; socio-demographic differences

Summary/Abstract: Introduction: Obtaining health information is an important part of health behaviour. However, there is limited data available about information gathering habits of patients. Aims: To identify different patient groups according to their information gathering habits. Methods: Questionnaire survey among potential patients in an outpatient clinic in Budapest. The survey consisted of the following domains: sociodemographic data; habits of visit a doctor; communications method with a specialist; use of technical devices. Results: The survey was completed by 260 patients (36,2% men; 63,8% women). Patients primarily get medical information from their doctors, followed by the internet, where different websites and Facebook groups are the most common sources of information. Mostly they use the internet for checking their symptoms and complaints, however searching for data about their physicians and healthcare institutions are uncommon. Patients who are young, active workers, highly educated are more active, while elderly patients and widows search less information on the internet. Conclusions: There are socio-demographic groups who are underinformed by digital healthcare related issues. Audited websites and social media releases could play an important role in the information gathering process of patients, and also supplement patient-doctor relationship.

  • Issue Year: 6/2017
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 124-138
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Hungarian
Toggle Accessibility Mode