Communication ETDs
Publication Date
12-1-2009
Abstract
The Internet is a technology that is influencing multiple human factors (i.e. cognitive and social). Adults who seek information on the Internet about their health conditions are becoming more common. Providers have been wary of patient information searches, fearing that, at worst, conflicting information may provoke confrontation and doubt and, at best, the information is trivial or already well known to the provider. For this exploratory study a survey was conducted that investigates trends in healthcare provider information technology use and information seeking opinions. This survey was followed by a highly structured interview of n=21 providers. The researcher shows two provider strategies by which patients information seeking can be used to strengthen the professional clinical relationship.
Language
English
Keywords
Patient-Provider Communication, Survey Analysis, Interview, Internet, Internet Informed Patient, Healthcare Provider, Doctor-Patient Communication, Pilot Study, Healthcare, Social Technology, Information Technology, Health Communication
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Communication
Level of Degree
Masters
Department Name
Department of Communication and Journalism
First Committee Member (Chair)
Rao, Nagesh
Second Committee Member
Brown, Coffee
Third Committee Member
Fiedler, Kurt
Recommended Citation
Willis, Matt. "What do healthcare providers think of patients who use the Internet?: An exploratory study." (2009). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cj_etds/90
