As patients increasingly turn to the internet to answer their treatment questions, oncologists need to determine what their patients want to know and offer guidance and interpretation of information sourced from the internet, a new study recommends.
The UK study published in the British Journal of Cancer found though the majority of patients perceived internet chemotherapy information as a valuable source, most health practitioners underestimated the proportion of patients who utilised it.
Patients most likely to search the net were younger, with higher incomes and qualifications, the study found.
In response to the findings, Associate Professor David Bell from the Department of Medical Oncology at Royal Northshore Hospital in Sydney estimated about 80% of his patients look for information online.
“People as young...
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