Impact of patient-provider communication on online health information behaviors in chronic illness

Abstract

This manuscript analyzes the role that patient-provider communication has in shaping online health information seeking in patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease [CKD]. Data were collected and analyzed over two years using grounded theory methods; the findings presented in this manuscript are a subset of the results from this larger study. Twelve participants, all diagnosed with CKD, were each interviewed twice for a total of 24 interviews; the posts they made to three different online support groups were also harvested. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method until theoretical saturation was reached. There are multiple factors related to patient-provider communication that influence online health information seeking, including dismissive responses from providers, the type of information need, time pressure, information overload, the healthcare system, and the desire to verify or crosscheck information by consulting multiple sources. These results highlight the importance of effective communication between people diagnosed with CKD and their healthcare providers, as these interactions impact online health information behavior. In particular, providers should foster an open attitude towards online health information seeking; they should also encourage patients to verify information found online.