Analysis of Health Counseling by the Internet - on the Home page of Korean Rheumatology Health Professions Society

인터넷을 이용한 관절염 환자의 건강상담 내용분석 -대한류마티스 건강전문학회 홈페이지를 대상으로-

Recently with the development in computer technology and its communication system, many changes in medical informatics enable us to use various medical information regardless of time or place. There are many home pages on the web, which provide medical counseling and hospital information. On May 11th 1999, Korean Rheumatology Health Professions Society began its new service as a home page on the web with various rheumatologic health information, questioning/ answering, and so on. This study was undertaken to examine the content and the purpose of health counseling on the web. The data was collected from 173 questioners who visited questioning/ answering site in the KRHPS home page for May 11th, 1999 through November 10th, 1999. Most of the questioners consulted the health problems of their or their families. Over two thirds of them were already diagnosed medically. Rheumatoid arthritis was the most frequent one. Other diseases, such as, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Still's disease were also on the list. Most of the questioners wanted to know treatment strategies, to consult about their symptoms, and to make diagnosis. And many questioners wanted detailed explanations about their diseases or the informations regarding the hospital. These findings suggest that the health counseling on the web may be used to supplement the lack of direct medical interviews with doctors. It also is expected to guide the patients to the right direction.