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From Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center in Mich (Dr Iverson) and Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH (Ms Howard and Dr Penney).

Address correspondence to Suzy A. Iverson, DO, Concord Hospital, 250 Pleasant St, Concord, NH 03301-7539. E-mail: siverson{at}crhc.org

Context: Although patient use of online resources to locate health-related information is increasing, few large-scale studies investigating ramifications to patient health and the patient-physician relationship have been conducted in primary care or osteopathic medical settings.

Objectives: To describe online health information–seeking behaviors among patients. To evaluate the effects of this information on patient self-care and the patient-physician relationship.

Methods: A standardized eight-question survey regarding Internet use and healthcare was given to patients at three osteopathic primary care medical clinics. A review of the literature is also included.

Results: Of 154 patient responses received, 89 patients (58%) reported using the Internet to find health information. Slightly more than half of these individuals (49 [55%]) reported a change in the way they think about their health as a result of that information. In addition, most of these individuals (41 [46%]) reported making subsequent health-related behavioral changes. The largest segment of this population was aged 31 to 45 years (17 [57%]). They reported asking more questions during office visits (27 [66%]), following physician advice more closely (22 [54%]), and making self-directed dietary changes (22 [54%]). By and large, these patients informed their physicians of these changes (30 [73%]), especially as they believed physicians were willing to discuss the health information they obtained online (75 [84%]).

Conclusion: Although many concerns have been expressed about resulting changes in patient-physician dynamics, online information gathering has the potential to foster greater patient engagement in health maintenance and care.