E-health consumers: practice and perspectives Andreassen, H.K. 1., Wangberg, S.C. 1, Wynn, R. 1, 2, Sørensen, T. 1, Hjortdahl, P. 1, 3 1 Norwegian Centre.

E-health consumers: practice and perspectives

Andreassen, H.K.1., Wangberg, S.C.1, Wynn, R.1,

2, Sørensen, T.1, Hjortdahl, P.1, 3

1 Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine, Tromsø, Norway2 Department of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Tromsø, Norway3 Department of family medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

Fordommer og fakta…

’Myths’ about health-related Internet activity• Internet is only for the technology savvy

few

• Internet empowers the patient

• Internet will increase health worries

• Internet users have blind confidence in health info on the net

• Internet will replace the doctor as expert

Internet –beyond an information highway

• Information (multi-)media– Same means as traditional media– Easily updated– Distributed author group– Unfiltered from source

• Communication media– Web communities

• Interactive or personalized features– Tailoring

Potentials of Internet for Health Promotion at a glance• The reach of mass media

• The efficacy of individual counselling

• Combined with social support

• At a low cost

Main questions

• How widespread is use of Internet for health?

• Who are the users?

• What do they use it for?

• What implications does it have?

Method 1

• Representative sample of the Norwegian population > 15 years of age (N=1007), gathered in 2005

• The data reported is part of the project, "WHO/ European survey on eHealth consumer trends" (ehealth Trends), funded by the European Commission. Seven countries participate in the project; lead partner is the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine (NST).

Method 2

• CATI covering self-reported use and attitudes.

• Poststratification weight were applied to correct for gender, age and educational level.

Use of the Internet in Norway-eHealth trends 05

• 83 % have used the Internet

• 51 % are daily users• 70 % weekly• 78 % monthly

020406080

100

Use of theInternet

Healthrelated use

Internetusers

Healthrelated use

totalpopulation

Have you used the Internet for health purposes?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

2000 2001 2002 2005

Total

15-29

30-44

45-59

60+

Education and work statusHealth seekers

0

20

40

60

80

100

Gender and GP visitsHealth seekers

30

40

50

60

70

80

Use of Internet for health purposes –Health status

0 %10 %20 %30 %40 %50 %60 %70 %80 %

Internet users

Total population

Characteristics of the E-health consumer• Women• Young adults• White collar work• Living in urban area• Visits GP more

controlled for: •No of children•Subjective health status•Affected by long term illness•Next of kin affected by long term illness

When it comes to health…

NB: different methodology 2001/2005

0

20

40

60

80

Use the Internet Think theInternet is an

important sourceof info

2002

2006

Sources of health information – importance

0 20 40 60 80

Internet

TV / Radio

Newspapers / Magazines

Family & Friends

Personal contact HP

Used the Internet to do what?

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

% of Internet healthusers (N=578)

% of total (N=1007)

Effects of health-related Internet use

Communication

• Web doctors: 16 %

• Family doctors: 3 %

• Self-help activities: 12 %

2001: 10 % self help, 10 % doctors

Why not approach family doctor via Internet?

N= 543 (Internet health users who had not approached fam dr)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

confidentiality family doctor donot offer

prefer face-to-face have not needed

How does it feel to discuss personal problems...?

24,4

3,4

36

13,7

29,927,7

6,5

34

3,2

21,7

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Very easy Easy Medium Difficult Very difficult

OnlineFace-to-face

75 % find it easier to discuss personal problems online. Kummervold et al, 2002

If you were to find a new doctor...

Answers 4-5 on 5 point scale. N=1007

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

appointments online

prescriptions via e-mail

Online access to epr

web site

reminders by SMS

Costs

email

Information on doctors practice

Recommendation from others

Accessibility

People use it more currently than they expect to do in the future...

N=10070 10 20 30 40 50 60

self-help

ordermedicines

onlineconsultations

administrateappointments

look forinformation

report having done this

think they will in the future

Conclusions

• Health-related use continues to grow• Growth not reflected in importance• Make people feel relieved and inspired to

change life-style• More information than communication• “The Internet is like alcohol in some sense. It

accentuates what you would do anyway.” -Esther Dyson, Interview in Time Magazine, October 2005