Health care is increasingly featured by the use of Web 2.0 communication and collaborative technologies that are reshaping the way patients and professionals interact. One in 4 persons wants to communicate with their physician via social media channels and it is expected that this number will further increase. Health care providers should explore new ways of communicating online and should facilitate ways for patients to connect with them.

1. HCSM: Preferences
in
Internet and Social Media to find health-
related information and for communication
in Healthcare: Preferences of the Dutch
General Population.
Tom van de Belt
Medicine 2.0, 2013, London

2. Online search for
information
My Sister
My Mom
My Grandma
In case of a health problem:
Online search for
diagnosis
Visit GP

3. Some facts about healthcare in NL:
1 Increasingly featured by the use of Web 2.0 / eHealth
[Hawn, 2009, Belt, 2011]
3 Attrition rates are often high
[Chiu 2010; Eysenbach 2005; Murray 2011].
2 Implementation of Web 2.0 / eHealth often difficult or
unsuccessful
[Chiu 2010; van Gemert-Pijnen, 2011].

4. Preferences regarding the use of Internet
and Social Media?
* Cross-sectional survey with 17 questions
* Disseminated via social
network
9.7 Million users
(1) Sociodemographic
(2) Health-related information and Internet
(3) Preferences regarding communication (Web 2.0)
* Results weighed for Dutch population based
on Gender, Age, Education

5. Preferences regarding the use of Internet
and Social Media?
* Cross-sectional survey with 17 questions
* Disseminated via social
network
9.7 Million users
(1) Sociodemographic
(2) Health-related information and Internet
(3) Preferences regarding communication (Web 2.0)
* Results weighed for Dutch population based
on Gender, Age, Education

6. Example
Young males 40% ‘Yes’
Old males 60% ‘Yes’
Young males = 0.3 of population
Old males = 0.7 of population
Sample
Dutch
General
Population
0.3 * 40% + 0.7 * 60% = 54 %
Weighed
percentage
mean:
50%
mean:
54%

7. Results
679 people filled out survey, 635cases included
Internet
GP/Specialist
Family/friends
Pat information leaflets, books
0 25 50 75 100
Health-related information (estimated % for NL)

8. Results
Self
GP/Specialist
Internet (general)
Friends/Family
Social media e.g. Facebook
0 2 4 6 8 10
Perceived reliability (Scale 1-10, 1 = very unreliable, 10 = very reliable, estimated for NL

9. Results
*OneWay ANOVA - contrast test
0
25
50
75
100
Diagnosis
Women Men
Searching for a diagnosis (%):
P=0.0001

10. Results
*OneWay ANOVA - contrast test
0
25
50
75
100
side-effects
< 35 > 34
Searching for side-effects (%):
P=0.009

11. Results
*OneWay ANOVA - contrast test
0
25
50
75
100
symptoms
< 35 > 34
Searching for symptoms (%):
P=0.008

12. Results
25.4%
% of Dutch people that prefer to communicate with
professional via Social Media:

13. Results
% of Dutch people that prefer to communicate with
professional via a webcam:
21.2%

14. Conclusion
•Internet is the main source of Health-related information for
Dutch people
•1/4 and 1/5 would like to communicate with a GP/Specialist
via social media or webcam, will further increase!
•Healthcare providers should (1) explore new ways of
communication and (2) should facilitate patients to connect with
them.

15. Finally
http://www.jmir.org/article/view/jmir_v15i10e220/1
Paper published in JMIR:

16. Medicine 2.0, 2013, London
Thank You!
@tomvandebelt