Talking about Dr. Google: Communication strategies used by nurse practitioners and patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the Netherlands to discuss online health information

• Published in: Patient education and counseling Vol. 103; no. 6; pp. 1216 - 1222
• Main Authors: Linn, Annemiek J., Schouten, Barbara C., Sanders, Remco, van Weert, Julia C.M., Bylund, Carma L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.06.2020
• Subjects: Aged; Communication; Female; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - therapy; Information Seeking Behavior; Internet; Medication; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Nurse Practitioners; Nursing; Online health information-seeking; Patient education; Patient Education as Topic; Patient-provider communication; Qualitative research; Surveys and Questionnaires; Netherlands; Qualitative research; Medication; Patient education; Online health information-seeking; Patient-provider communication
• ISSN: 0738-3991; 1873-5134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2020.01.011

•Online health information was discussed in a minority of the consultations.•Patients and nurses are equally as likely to talk about online information.•Nurses particularly adopt a patient-centered communication style.•Patients and nurses discuss concerns about online health information. This study explores how patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and nurse practitioners (NPs) in the Netherlands communicate about online health information-seeking. We analyzed 165 consultations of patients at the start of maintenance treatment using grounded theory. Consultations in which the words; internet, website, Google, Googled, webpages, online (forum/blog/platform) or a website was mentioned, were included. Segments were identified and analyzed that represented a discussion about online health information-seeking (n = 87). We coded the initiator, initiation and reaction communication strategy. Half of the sample was female, most patients were moderately to highly educated and aged on average 48 years. One third of the consultations included a discussion about online health information-seeking. Seventeen communication initiation and reactions strategies were identified. Patients and NPs were equally as likely to initiate a neutral discussion about online health information-seeking. Patients repeatedly reacted with disclosing their concerns. NPs responded by taking patients’ online health information-seeking seriously or affirming patients’ beliefs. This exploration makes a unique contribution by demonstrating that NPs particularly adopt a patient-centered communication style while communicating about patients’ online health information-seeking. Results of this study could guide interventions to train providers in talking about patients’ online health information-seeking.