Improving patient information – are the new media already requested? – A questionnaire study at a gastroenterology outpatient clinic

Abstract

Background Information provided for patients is an essential factor for communication between patients and health-care professionals. To analyze the most used sources of medical information and requested media for patient information, a questionnaire study was initiated.

Methods A single-center questionnaire study at an outpatient clinic at a tertiary care hospital. Two hundred participating patients, average age 54.4 years (1:1.5 m:f). Results were displayed in total and as count per participant (i. e., how often is a medium mentioned per participant).

Results As a source for general information, printed media are mentioned 112 times (0.56 counts per participant), the Internet 125 (0.62), and television 124 (0.62). As a source for medical information, printed media were mentioned 84 times (0.42) and the Internet 133 (0.67). As the most requested source for additional patient information, printed media were mentioned 105 times (0.53) and medical apps 63 (0.32).

Conclusion A majority of our patients regularly use the Internet for medical information. Paper-print media are still highly requested by patients. New media are more often requested in younger patients but still reach the ages for screening programs and therefore offer big opportunities towards patient-doctor communication. By a good mixture of media provided a higher patient satisfaction and adherence could be ensured by the health-care professionals.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund Die Information, die Patienten erhalten sind wesentlich für die Arzt-Patienten-Kommunikation. Um herauszufinden welche Medien von unseren PatientInnen am häufigsten benutzt werden und welche von Seiten der PatientInnen für weitere Patienteninformation gewünscht werden wurde eine Fragebogenbasierte Studie durchgeführt.

Methoden Single-Center-Studie in der Ambulanzabteilung einer Universitätsklinik. 200 Teilnehmer mit einem durchschnittlichen Alter von 54,4 Jahren (1:1,5m:f). Die Ergebnisse werden als absolute Zahlen und als genanntes Medium pro Teilnehmer angegeben.

Ergebnisse Für allgemeine Informationen (z. B. aktuelle Nachrichten) werden neben Printmedien (112 Nennungen, 0,56 Nennungen pro Teilnehmer), v. a. das Internet (125; 0,62) und das Fernsehen (124;0,62) genannt. Für medizinische Themen greift die Mehrheit bereits auf das Internet zurück (133; 0,67). Für weitere Informationen zu medizinischen Behandlungen und deren Ablauf wünschen sich viele Patienten noch Printmedien (105; 0,53), gefolgt von medizinischen APP´s (63; 0,32)

Diskussion Die Studie bestätigt, dass ein Großteil der PatientInnen bereits auf das Internet als Informationsquelle für medizinische Themen zurückgreift. Jedoch ist die Nachfrage nach dem klassischen Printmedium als Informationsträger im medizinischen Sektor hoch. Auch wenn neue Medien vor allem bei jüngeren PatientInnen nachgefragt werden erreichen die neuen Medien bereits die Altersgruppen bei denen Karzinomvorsorgeprogramme zum Tragen kommen und eröffnen somit große Möglichkeiten in der Verbesserung der Arzt-Patient-Kommunikation. Eine gute Mischung aus verschiedenen Medien sollte uns eine höhere Patientenzufriedenheit auf der Ebene der Kommunikation erreichen lassen.

Key words

patient information - new media - internet - communication - doctor-patient interaction

Schlüsselwörter

Patienteninformation - neue Medien - Internet - Kommunikation - Arzt-Patienten-Kommunikation

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