Attitude of Egyptian Online Health Information Seekers towards health information provided through the internet: A qualitative study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The Internet has become an established source of health information for many Egyptian internet users. Understanding users’ perceptions of the benefits and limitations of online health information will explain the influence of this information on users’ health-related behaviour and decisions. OBJECTIVE This qualitative study aimed to understand the attitude of Egyptian internet users towards internet health information and to explore the impact of obtained health information on users’ behaviour and on their doctor-patient relationship. METHODS For this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 49 participants (41 Egyptian internet users, and 8 physicians) who took part in focus groups or individual interviews. We used a thematic analysis approach to explain and demonstrate participants' views, thoughts, and experiences in using OHI. RESULTS The internet has become an important source of health information in comparison to other health information sources” is the central theme that has emerged across the thematic analysis. The attitude towards the use of internet health was classified into three main themes: 1) feeling towards the online health information (with sub-themes: favouring, disliking, neutral, or having ambivalence feelings.), 2) motivators to seek internet health information and 3) behavioural changes with using internet health (sub-themes: confidence, satisfaction and improv knowledge). Themes emerged from physicians’ interview included the accessibility of the internet health information, good communication, and coordination of care between patients and their physicians, and the active engagement of patients with their management plan. CONCLUSIONS Internet became an essential source of health information for Egyptian adults. Internet health information can improve the patient-physician relationship especially when users discuss the obtained health information with their physician. Internet health information provided seekers with social support and self-confidence when taking health decisions.