Empowered Citizens in Health: Insights from a European Survey
Author Information
Author(s): Silvina Santana, Berthold Lausen, Maria Bujnowska-Fedak, Catherine E Chronaki, Hans-Ulrich Prokosch, Rolf Wynn
Primary Institution: Institute of Electronics Engineering and Telematics of Aveiro, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Hypothesis
Does access to health information on the Internet empower citizens in their interactions with health professionals?
Conclusion
Access to online health information is associated with more informed and self-reliant patients who actively engage with health professionals.
Supporting Evidence
- 33.9% of citizens used the Internet to decide on consulting a health professional.
- 22.0% made suggestions to health professionals based on online information.
- Participation in online health forums is linked to more assertive patient behavior.
Takeaway
People are using the Internet to learn about health, which helps them feel more confident when talking to doctors.
Methodology
Data was collected through computer-assisted telephone interviews across seven European countries.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to self-reported data and the nature of telephone surveys.
Limitations
The study may not represent all European countries and has a relatively low response rate.
Participant Demographics
Participants were from Denmark, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Norway, Poland, and Portugal, with a focus on age and education levels.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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