Tendency of cancer patients and their relatives to use internet for health-related searches: Turkish Oncology Group (TOG) Study
Nayir, E.; Tanriverdi, O.; Karakas, Y.; Kilickap, S.; Serdar Turhal, N.; Avci, N.; Okutur, K.; Koca, D.; Erdem, D.; Abali, H.; Yamac, D.; Bilir, C.; Kacan, T.
Journal of BUON Official Journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology 21(3): 714-719
2016
ISSN/ISBN: 1107-0625 PMID: 27569068 Document Number: 687024
This study aimed to reveal the habits of using internet by cancer patients and their relatives to access health-related information and services in Turkey. An 18-item questionnaire survey was applied in cancer patients and their relatives. A total of 1106 patients (male, 37.3%, and female, 62.7%) and their relatives were included in the study. The responders had been using internet to obtain health information about oncological diseases, once a month (34.2%), 1-2 times a week (27.4%) or 2-3 times a month (21.9%). After diagnosis of cancer was made, participants more frequently (64.4%) investigated health-related issues, while 64.9% of them considered internet as an important search tool, and 16.7% of them had thought to give up cancer therapy under the influence of internet information. Some (33.1%) participants had used herbal medicine, and 16.7% of them had learnt these herbal products from internet. Still 12.7% of them had not questioned the accuracy of internet information, while 26.9% of them indicated that they had not shared the internet information about cancer with their physicians, and 13 % of them searched information in internet without asking their physicians. Cancer patients and their relatives showed a higher tendency to use health-related internet information which may mislead them, and can result in treatment incompliance. Health professionals should offer evidence-based information to the patients and their relatives through internet.