Cury DB, Paez LEF, Micheletti AC, Reis ST. The Impact of Electronic Media on Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2021;
14:809-813. [PMID:
33664603 PMCID:
PMC7920746 DOI:
10.2147/rmhp.s285088]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction and Objectives
Patients with chronic illnesses, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), may often consult the internet, which can cause anguish, fear, stress and anxiety. The aim of our study is to evaluate the use of the internet and its effects on patients with IBD.
Patients and Methods
This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with quantitative frequency analysis. We applied a questionnaire comprising questions about internet use, and the DASS21 questionnaire to analyze internet impact on patients’ stress and/or anxiety for 36 months.
Results
A total of 104 patients were included over a period of 45 days (82% CD, 18% UC). The mean age was 41.3 years (±15.9 years). Internet use was more frequent in patients with a mean age of 39.5 years (±14.4 years), with the highest frequencies found in the age group of 26–36 years. Internet use were related to: 72.6% general information about the disease, 87.3% symptom information (42.1% once a week, 27.4% never, 18.8% once a month, 10.5% daily, and 3.2% twice a day). The most visited search engine was Google 63.7% and the most visited sites were: patient group sites 16.7%, health sites 16.2% medical sites 12.8%.
Conclusion
The internet is often a resource utilized by patients with IBD and although these patients sought to obtain more information about their disease and their symptoms. The internet was not a factor influencing anxiety and stress for these patients.
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