Dr Google in the ED: searching for online health information by adult emergency department patients - Anthony M Cocco

Supervisors:
Dr. Jennie Hutton

Institution: 
St. Vincent’s Hospital

Objective: 
To determine the prevalence, predictors, and characteristics of health-related internet searches by adult emergency department (ED) patients; to examine the effect of searching on the doctorepatient relationship and treatment compliance.

Design: 
A multi-centre, observational, cross-sectional study; a purpose-designed 51-item survey, including tools for assessing e-health literacy (eHEALS) and the effects of internet searching on the doctorepatient relationship (ISMII).

Setting, participants:
400 adult patients presenting to two large tertiary referral centre emergency departments in Melbourne, February/May 2017.

Outcome measures: 
Descriptive statistics for searching prevalence and characteristics, doctorepatient interaction, and treatment compliance; predictors of searching; effect of searching on doctorepatient interaction.

Results:
400 of 1056 patients screened for eligibility were enrolled; their mean age was 47.1 years (SD, 21.1 years);
51.8% were men. 196 (49.0%) regularly searched the internet for health information; 139 (34.8%) had searched regarding their current problem before presenting to the ED. The mean ISMII score was 30.3 (95% CI, 29.6e31.0); searching improved the doctorepatient interaction for 150 respondents (77.3%). Younger age (per 10-year higher age band: odds ratio [OR], 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61e0.91) and greater e-health literacy (per one-point eHEALS increase: OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.06e1.17) predicted searching the current problem prior to presentation; e-health literacy predicted ISMII score (estimate, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.20e0.39). Most patients would never or rarely doubt their diagnosis (79%) or change their treatment plan (91%) because of conflicting online information.

Conclusion: 
Online health care information was frequently sought before presenting to an ED, especially by younger and e-health literate patients. Searching had a positive impact on the doctorepatient interaction and was unlikely to reduce adherence to treatment.

Link to Published Article:
https://www.mja.com.au/system/files/issues/209_08/10.5694mja17.00889.pdf