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, Norway 2 Department of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Tromsø, Norway 3 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 % have used the Internet 51 % are daily users 70 % weekly 78 % monthly

Have you used the Internet for health purposes?

Education and work status Health seekers

Gender and GP visits Health seekers

Use of Internet for health purposes –Health status

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

Sources of health information – importance

Used the Internet to do what?

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)

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

People use it more currently than they expect to do in the future... N=1007

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