What is the Frequency of Internet Searches by Patients with Rheumatic Diseases? To What Degree are the Websites They Get Information from Reliable and What is the Effect of These Websites on Their Treatment?

Journal Title: Istanbul Medical Journal - Year 2020, Vol 21, Issue 4

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to determine internet use among a certain number of patients with regard to the three prevalent rheumatic diseases in clinical practice and more importantly to evaluate the quality of information available on the internet using the DISCERN scoring system. Methods: The study population consists of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia. As part of this study, we conducted a survey and recorded whether or not they researched over the internet concerning their diseases. After the survey, we also tested the reliability of the websites. We analysed websites using the DISCERN scoring system in order to determine to what degree these websites contained sufficient. Results: We found that 102 out of 173 cases (58.9%) used the internet to get information about their disease, while 71 cases (41.04%) did not conduct any internet research. According to the DISCERN scoring, the aforementioned websites were evaluated with 15 questions in the survey. Consequently, it was inferred that among these websites, 24 (27.2%) had high-level (4 to 5 points), 44 (50%) had medium-level (2 to 3 points) and 20 (22.7%) had poor-level (1 point) quality and reliability. Conclusion: The digital interest that has gradually increased in the recent years has become a concern as patients desire to have information on the course and treatment of their rheumatic diseases. It should be acknowledged that patients with long-term treatment and follow-up processes are not and will not be guided only by their doctors. Physicians may improve the quality of life of their patients and help them avoid unnecessary anxieties, if they regard the foregoing when they inform and instruct them.

Authors and Affiliations

Aysel Gürcan Atçı, Sena Tolu

Keywords

Related Articles

Efficacy of Sclerotherapic Agents in the Treatment of Simple Ovarian Cysts Created by Experimental Rat Model

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of tetracycline (TC), clarithromycin (CM) and bleomycin (BLM) on the cyst diameter and ovarian tissues in the treatment of simple ovarian cysts. Meth...

Elastofibroma Dorsi: Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Perspective

Introduction: Elastofibroma dorsi (ED) is a rare, benign and slowly growing connective tissue tumor that is frequently observed in the subscapular region in elderly people. It can be detected with various imaging modalit...

Effects of Anaemia Parameters on Metabolic Control in Children with Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Anaemia parameters in children with type- 1 diabetes and their relationship with metabolic control has received little attention in the literature. We aimed to determine the incidence of anaemia and to inve...

Appendiceal Mucocele Spontaneously Drained into the Cecum: Report of a Case

We aimed to present a case of appendiceal mucocele who was admitted with abdominal pain, operated under elective conditions and found to have been spontaneously drained from the root of the appendix to the colon in surgi...

Investigation of the Relationship between Blood Gas Parameters and Thirty-day Mortality in Elderly Patients Diagnosed with Sepsis

Introduction: Although sepsis is one of the most important causes of death in hospitalized patients, information on early predictive factors for predicting mortality and morbidity is limited. The aim of this study was to...

Download PDF file
  • EP ID EP685099
  • DOI 10.4274/imj.galenos.2020.38243
  • Views 109
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Aysel Gürcan Atçı, Sena Tolu (2020). What is the Frequency of Internet Searches by Patients with Rheumatic Diseases? To What Degree are the Websites They Get Information from Reliable and What is the Effect of These Websites on Their Treatment?. Istanbul Medical Journal, 21(4), -. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-685099