Sturiale A, Pata F, De Simone V, Pellino G, Campennì P, Moggia E, Manigrasso M, Milone M, Rizzo G, Morganti R, Martellucci J, Gallo G
Proctology and Pelvic Floor Clinical Centre, Cisanello University Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
Department of Surgery, Nicola Giannettasio Hospital, Corigliano-Rossano, Italy.
Colorectal Dis. 2020 Nov;22(11):1724-1733. doi: 10.1111/codi.15245. Epub 2020 Aug 2.
Social media are used daily by both healthcare workers and patients. Online platforms have the potential to provide patients with useful information, increase their engagement and potentially revolutionize the patient-physician relationship. This survey aimed to evaluate the impact of the Internet and social media (I&SM) on patients affected by colorectal and proctological diseases to define a pathway to develop an evidence-based communications strategy.
A 31-item anonymous electronic questionnaire was designed. It consisted of different sections concerning demographics and education, reason for the visit, knowledge of the diseases, frequency of I&SM use and patients' opinions about physicians' websites.
Over a 5-month period, 37 centres and 105 surgeons took part in the survey, and a total of 5800 patients enrolled. Approximately half of them reported using the Internet daily, and 74.6% of the study population used it at least once per week. There was a correlation (P < 0.001) between those who used the Internet for work and those who had knowledge of both symptoms and the likely diagnosis before consultation. Patients who used the Internet daily were more likely to request a consultation within 6 months of symptom onset (P < 0.0001). Patients with anorectal diseases were more likely to know about their disease and symptoms before the visit (P < 0.001).
Colorectal patients use I&SM to look for health-related information mainly after their medical visit. Surgeons and hospital networks should plan a tailored strategy to increase patient engagement, delivering appropriate information on social media.
医护人员和患者每天都会使用社交媒体。在线平台有潜力为患者提供有用信息，增强他们的参与度，并有可能彻底改变医患关系。这项调查旨在评估互联网和社交媒体（I&SM）对受结直肠和直肠疾病影响的患者的影响，以确定制定循证沟通策略的途径。
设计了一份包含31个项目的匿名电子问卷。它由不同部分组成，涉及人口统计学和教育程度、就诊原因、疾病知识、I&SM使用频率以及患者对医生网站的看法。
在5个月的时间里，37个中心和105名外科医生参与了调查，共有5800名患者登记。其中约一半人报告每天使用互联网，74.6%的研究人群每周至少使用一次。在工作中使用互联网的人与在咨询前了解症状和可能诊断的人之间存在相关性（P < 0.001）。每天使用互联网的患者在症状出现后6个月内更有可能要求会诊（P < 0.0001）。患有肛肠疾病的患者在就诊前更有可能了解自己的疾病和症状（P < 0.001）。
结直肠疾病患者主要在就诊后使用I&SM来寻找与健康相关的信息。外科医生和医院网络应制定量身定制的策略，以提高患者的参与度，在社交媒体上提供适当的信息。
