The importance of internet usage for urologic patients


Submitted: January 23, 2015
Accepted: January 23, 2015
Published: December 30, 2014
Abstract Views: 1225
PDF: 677
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Authors

  • Cahit Sahin Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Urology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Murat Tuncer Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Urology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Ozgur Yazici Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Urology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Alper Kafkasli Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Urology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Utku Can Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Urology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Bilal Eryildirim Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Urology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Orhan Koca Hydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Urology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Kemal Sarica Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Urology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
Objectives: To evaluate Internet usage frequency, rate of searched diseases and impact of Internet derived data on future patientphysician relationship in patients applying to an Urology Department. Methods: A well prepared questionnaire has been given to 1000 referring cases, out of which 589 accepted to participate on a volunteer basis to a face to face interview. Patients were divided into subgroups with respect to age, gender and as well as their educational and economical status. Regarding Internet, questions inquired the use of Internet, the point of view about it, opinions about healthcare system and most commonly urological diseases searched in Internet. Results: Of 589 patients participating, 38.2% reported access to the Internet; in relation to subgroup analysis of data, there was a statistically significant relationship between the use of Internet and age (p < 0.001), gender (p = 0.048), educational status (p < 0.001) and economical status of (p = 0.002) the cases evaluated. Diseasespecific information was most frequently sought: 18.2% searched for urolithiasis, 14.2% for non-cancer related kidney diseases, and 14.2% for urologic cancers. Conclusions: Younger patients with higher educational status tended to use Internet and the majority of these cases share all these information with their physicians during their visit. These findings indicate that all physicians should consider this fact seriously and make their future plans in the light of internet based activities which provides numerous advantages.

Sahin, C., Tuncer, M., Yazici, O., Kafkasli, A., Can, U., Eryildirim, B., Koca, O., & Sarica, K. (2014). The importance of internet usage for urologic patients. Archivio Italiano Di Urologia E Andrologia, 86(4), 261–265. https://doi.org/10.4081/aiua.2014.4.261

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