الفهرس 
Epidemiology of the internetOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
An important aspect of the Internet is its potential to give power by putting more control in the hands of the user, as compared with other media. Most people find the health information they are looking for when they search the Internet; according to a study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, roughly 80% of the health seekers find the information they need. Frequent users of health sites on the Internet are patients who have long-term illnesses they are searching for reliable information about their specific diseases.
This study focuses on the effect of information that found on the internet on the relationship between doctor and patient. As more people use the Internet to collect information, many are addressing their own health-related needs. At the same time, physicians remain in doubt about the advantages of using the Internet in their practices. They also worry that patients who turn to internet for information may not consult a doctor when serious health problems occur.
The aim of this study is to know the effect of the internet on health behavior and doctor patient relationship.
It was a cross sectional study that was conducted in Tanta city. Target population is any patient come to one of Tanta primary health center & one of Tanta city tertiary health care facility. The study conducted on 600 patients one of Tanta primary health center (El Menshawy hospital) and one of Tanta city tertiary health care facility (Saed health center) in Tanta city.
An interview questionnaire was used to collect the necessary data which include the following: -
1) Socio-economic demographic data:
Including nine questions: age, educational level of wives and their husbands, family size, occupation, residence, income, computer use, sewage disposal and refuse disposal.
Scoring scale for socio-economic criteria:
High socio economic status: >70%.
Medium socio economic status: 40 % to 70%. Low socio economic status: < 40%.
2) Effect on health behavior: Including 15 questions:
1 question its answer was: Very good, good, fair, and poor.
1 question its answer was: Always, often, sometimes, and never.
1 question its answer was: Ask a health professional, ask other people, and written materials.
5 questions their answers were: yes or no.
2 questions their answers were: I am interested, I feel confused, I feel overwhelmed, I feel reassured, and I take problems seriously.
1 question its answer was: I feel adequately informed already, I get information through other resources, I do not have access to the Internet, I am not comfortable searching the Internet, and I do not trust the information on the Internet.
2 questions their answers were: a lot, some, a little, and none.
1 question its answer was: I don’t search for health-related information, Ask a health professional, Search on the internet, and Search using sources other than the internet (magazines, Friends, etc.)
1 question its answer was: never, once, sometimes, and often
3) Effect on doctor patient relationship. : Including 17 questions: 2 questions their answers were: yes or no 1 question its answer was: Following closely as possible, Following most of advice closely, Preferred to make up own mind, and Seldom follow doctor advice 1 question its answer was: Always, often, sometimes, and never. 13 questions their answers were: Completely disagree, disagree, agree, and completely agree.