Health impact

Internet-derived health insights are now routinely sought by patients

People are increasingly turning to the Internet to share their health problems on the Internet, seeking insights and practical advice, an Oxford study has found. Researchers said the last decade has seen a remarkable shift in how people use the Internet in relation to their health, and it is now talked of as a routine feature of being ill.

The study examined patient interviews conducted between 2001 and 2013, and explored how people talked about the Internet, capturing changing attitudes towards the use of the Internet for health across the last decade.

In the early 2000’s, people who sought health information online saw themselves as particularly engaged, expert and activated patients.

By 2013, the web had become an almost routine part of many people’s experience of health and illness, researchers said.

“The Internet has transformed how people make sense of and respond to symptoms, decide whether to consult, make treatment choices, cope with their illness and connect to others,” said Professor Sue Ziebland from the University of Oxford.

The study found that people want more than just information online, they also seek reflections, insights and practical advice from other patients.

“Every year millions of people use sites such as Oxford’s www.healthtalkonline.org to learn about their health issues from other patients,” researchers said.

Film, animations, sound, pictures and personal experiences online make health information more digestible for people from all backgrounds.

“By helping people to learn about their condition, prepare for consultations and demonstrate to doctors their interest and involvement, the web may even help to undermine some health inequalities,” said Ziebland.

Increasingly, doctors are aware of the trend, and recommend useful sites to their patients. However, even in 2013, patients were reluctant to talk to their doctors about what they find online, fearing that such revelations might damage their relationship with their doctor.

“GPs and nurses who recognise that people are using the Internet when they are ill can support and discuss the information with their patients; those who do not recognise this shift can unwittingly undermine and patronise their patients,” Ziebland said.

Source: ndtv

Differences in lung function have major health impact

A global study has suggested that large differences in lung function between healthy people from different socioeconomic and geographical regions of the world could impact their health.

The large differences in lung function could not be accounted for by variations across regions in height, weight, age, gender, education levels and rural or urban location.

Dr. MyLinh Duong, lead author of the paper and an assistant professor of medicine of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University, said that the findings have important public health implications, as there is a well known link between low lung function and increased mortality.

Researchers at McMaster University said that these differences may be genetically determined, but more likely most relate to the socio-economic, nutritional and environmental exposures of people in the different regions. These are all conditions that could be modified or improved.

Respirologist Dr. Paul O“Byrne, who is the co-author of the paper, said that these findings are of great importance, as we need separate standards for what is considered normal in different parts of the world and may lead us to rethink how to define those with abnormal lung function.

The study included 154,000 adult non-smokers between 35 and 70 years old from 17 countries from four continents.

Some of the factors such as nutrition and pollution levels will be explored in future analysis of the study.

The study is published in the journal, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.