Attitudes of oncology health professionals to information from the Internet and other media

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate attitudes of Australian health professionals working in oncology to health-related information in the media and on the Internet and to patients who search for this information. DESIGN: Questionnaire-based survey. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Questionnaires were mailed in January 2003 to all 333 health professionals belonging to the Victorian Cooperative Oncology Group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 27 items about attitudes to information in the media and the Internet, patient information-seeking and its effects on the doctor-patient relationship. RESULTS: 226 surveys (68%) were returned and assessable. Most respondents took notice of medical information reported on television..