Relationship Between the Use of Internet Information for Health Purposes and Medical Resources Consumption for an English-Speaking Sample

Background: The Internet is becoming an important source of information for patients and clinicians [1]. Indeed, some statistics reveal that more than 93 million American people looked for health information on the Internet in 2002 [2]. Patients find on the Internet some answers to their health-related questions. So, many researchers in the fields of Information systems and medical sciences are manifesting a special interest to the area of the Internet use for health-related concerns.Background: The Internet is becoming an important source of information for patients and clinicians [1]. Indeed, some statistics reveal that more than 93 million American people looked for health information on the Internet in 2002 [2]. Patients find on the Internet some answers to their health-related questions. So, many researchers in the fields of Information systems and medical sciences are manifesting a special interest to the area of the Internet use for health-related concerns. Objectives: The purpose of this research is to study the relationship between the use of Internet information by English-speaking patients and their consumption of medical resources. Even though the literature dealing with Internet information related to health is abundant, only one study tested this relationship but focused on French-speaking patients [3]. Objective: The purpose of this research is to study the relationship between the use of Internet information by English-speaking patients and their consumption of medical resources. Even though the literature dealing with Internet information related to health is abundant, only one study tested this relationship but focused on French-speaking patients [3]. Methods: A quantitative study based on an eleven-item questionnaire was performed. Questions deal with two variables that are “Habit of Internet information use” (independent variable) and “Consumption of medical resources” (dependent variable). The sample is made of 120 patients that suffer from a long-term disease and that are accustomed to the use of the Internet for health-related concerns.Methods: A quantitative study based on an eleven-item questionnaire was performed. Questions deal with two variables that are “Habit of Internet information use” (independent variable) and “Consumption of medical resources” (dependent variable). The sample is made of 120 patients that suffer from a long-term disease and that are accustomed to the use of the Internet for health-related concerns. Results: Construct validity and reliability were ensured. Most items have loadings greater than 0.5. The path coefficient between the two variables is significant and high (0.482). The predictor variable explains 23.3% of the dependant variable. The use of online health information by patients has a positive relationship with their consumption of medical resources. This result can be explained by some short-term effects or by the fact that patients may misunderstand, or be overwhelmed by the poor quality of the information obtained from the Internet. As concluded by authors in [3], this situation can lead patients to make the wrong decisions or to worsen their health state.Results: Construct validity and reliability were ensured. Most items have loadings greater than 0.5. The path coefficient between the two variables is significant and high (0.482). The predictor variable explains 23.3% of the dependant variable. The use of online health information by patients has a positive relationship with their consumption of medical resources. This result can be explained by some short-term effects or by the fact that patients may misunderstand, or be overwhelmed by the poor quality of the information obtained from the Internet. As concluded by authors in [3], this situation can lead patients to make the wrong decisions or to worsen their health state. Conclusions: The results of this research may have theoretical and practical contributions to the fields of management information systems and medical sciences. Indeed, researchers will be concerned with the role that Internet information can play in the management of medical systems and with the design of health-related websites.Conclusions: The results of this research may have theoretical and practical contributions to the fields of management information systems and medical sciences. Indeed, researchers will be concerned with the role that Internet information can play in the management of medical systems and with the design of health-related websites.