Patients' Reasons for Refraining from Discussing Internet Health Information with Their Healthcare Providers
Abstract
This exploratory study examined factors that constrain patients from discussing Internet health information with their healthcare providers. Participants (N = 714) were asked to list reasons why they have not talked with their providers about Internet health information they had found. Factors (N = 767) included patient attributions about the information, systems or circumstances, fear of treading on the provider's turf, face-saving concerns, and patient perceptions of provider attributions about the information. Comparisons between those who had and those who had not talked to their healthcare providers about their Internet research revealed significant differences in types of constraining factors indicated. Issues concerning an increasingly Internet-savvy public and provider-patient relationships are considered in the discussion within the framework of the goals, planning, action theory. Continued efforts in provider and patient education can help to overcome barriers that restrict communication concerning Internet health research.
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Such patients were concerned about HCPs' reactions to their health research online and felt that they might not be listened to or that professionals might become dismissive or uninterested.
“such patients were concerned about HCP’s reactions to their health research online and felt that they might not be listened to or that the professionals might become dismissive or uninterested [27, 32, 36, 39].”
Other reasons for patients not discussing online health information research included feeling embarrassed and not wanting to be seen negatively.
“Other reasons for patients not discussing online health information research included feeling embarrassed and not wanting to be seen negatively [27, 32, 39]”
Several patients did not want to tread on the HCP's toes; they perceived they would be challenging the professional and did not want to question them or make them feel offended or intimidated by attempts to discuss online health information, thus interrupting the diagnostic process.
“Several patients did not want to tread on the HCP’s toes; such patients perceived they would be challenging the professional and did not want to question them or make them feel offended or intimidated by attempts to discuss online health information, thus interrupting the diagnostic process [27, 32, 47].”
Some patients did not bring up their research during consultations because there was not enough time.
“Others found that there was not enough time to bring up their research during consultations [32, 45].”
Patients felt more trusting towards their GPs when they were honest about their levels of knowledge, acknowledging that generalists may not know some of the highly specific information provided online.
“Patients felt more trusting towards their GP’s when they were honest about their levels of knowledge, acknowledging that generalists may not know some of the highly specific information provided online [27, 32].”
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- Authors
- Imes, R. S., Bylund, C. L., Sabee, C. M., Routsong, T. R., & Sanford, A. A.
- Affiliations
- Carroll University (US)
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (US)
- San Francisco State University (US)
- Washburn University (US)
- Northeastern State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Imes, Rebecca S.
- Venue
- Health Communication
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2008-12-09
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 538-547
- ISSN
- 1041-0236 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7027
- OpenAlex
- W1971359174
- Cited by
- 73
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 5.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Health Communication (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Social Sciences › Health › Social Media in Health Education
- Keywords
- online health information, patient-provider communication, barriers to disclosure, provider-patient relationship, health information seeking, patient education, provider education
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, Choice Behavior, Communication, Female, Goals, Health Education, Humans, Information Services, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Participation, Physician-Patient Relations, Time Factors, Internet, Intention, Biomedical Research
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