Health and Internet Use: A Doctor-Patient Relationship Case Study

Abstract

The relationship between patients and doctors has been influenced by the use of the Internet in the recent years. We analyze the association between decisions regarding the use of internet for healthcare purposes and their impact on the relationship between patients and healthcare providers, especially when searching information on the Internet as preparation for consultation. We use a structural equation model (SEM) for the analysis, based on data collected in a 2010 survey in Bogotá (Colombia) to a representative sample. Evidence suggests that, from the patient’s perspective, there exists a significant association between the use of internet to make decisions to improve healthcare actions, and the use of internet in doctor-patient interaction. This relationship is mediated by the use of internet to gain information about health issues.