Impact of a Consumer and Patient Health Information Service on User Satisfaction, Attitudes, and Patient-Health Care Professional Interactions

Abstract

The main goal of this project was to evaluate a consumer and patient information service and its impact on attitudes, health care decision making, and health care professional-patient communication. A survey was distributed to users of a well-established CAPHIS and was returned at a rate of 39 percent (n = 271). Sixty-six percent of respondent said that the information helped them to communicate better with health care professionals and 63.84 percent said they discussed the information they received with a health care professional. The information reduced stress for respondent or their families 52.24 percent; there also was an impact on “treatment” (27.68 percent), “attitude toward health” (25.83 percent), and “life style habits” (21.40 percent). These finding indicate that CAPHIS continues to be valued by participants, despite widespread Internet access, and that it impacts attitudes, communications, and diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle choices.