Investigating the impact of the internet on patient perception of arrhythmia and therapy compliance

Background: The growing amount of data and accessibility of the world wide web (Web), contributes to being a first line research base of information, including health-related. Patients are now better informed, implicating new challenges for health care providers.

Objectives: Identify the socio-demographic traits of patients searching the Web for health-related information on arrhythmia. Determine the Web’s role as a source for health-related information, thus determining its usefulness and potential persuasibility in terms of therapy compliance, choice of treating physician and place of treatment. As physicians, determine essential information to and thus improving medical counseling.

Methods: Prospective questionnaire-based cohort study. N=112.

Results: The mean age was 54 years. 47.3% had reached scholastic professional levels. 32.1% of were retired. 57.2% had their disease for 10 years. 65.2% search the Web for health information using a mobile phone (89.2%). Inquiry takes place mainly after diagnosis (45%, p=0.02). Before diagnosis, patients look for immediate solutions (80%), after diagnosis they seek clarification (65.3%). 76.8% were satisfied with their health care provider and in 19.4% of the cases found the Web information to be supportive to the consultation. 58.7% stated that the Web had no influence on their decision making.

Conclusions: Patients with arrhythmia, share socio-demographic and web-inquiring characteristics shown in the early 2000s. Before diagnosis, the Web serves as a “first-inquiry”, after diagnosis as means to understand arrhythmia. Nonetheless, a central role of health care providers in disease education and patient attendance remains.