Natalia Pletneva*, Health on the net Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland Ameena Jesaimani, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland Caroline Werner, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland Marie Besson, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland Jules Desmeules, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland Christine Cedraschi, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland Valerie Piguet*, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland Track: Research Presentation Topic: Collaborative biomedical research, academic / scholarly communication, publishing and peer review Presentation Type: Poster presentation Submission Type: Single Presentation Last modified: 2013-09-25

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Background: Internet is extensively used to search for health information. While general data is available, little is known about how patients with chronic pain use Internet with respect to their condition and to medication intake. This study addresses these questions.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2012. A questionnaire investigating various aspects of Internet use as well as of pain-related issues was given to the patients referred to Multidisciplinary Pain Centre of the Geneva University Hospitals.
Results: Fifty newly referred patients were contacted for the study, of whom 38 met the inclusion criteria and 29 accepted to participate. Among the respondents, 65% were females; mean age was 53 years (SD=1.6). Musculoskeletal problems were the most frequent origin of pain (62%) followed by neuropathic pain (24%). Mean pain duration was 6 years (SD=1). Medication intake included opioids (65%), NSAIDs (55%), paracetamol (52%), antidepressants (41%), and antiepileptic drugs (38%).
The great majority of the participants (97%) had a personal computer at home, and 69% used Internet at least once a day. All the patients except one (excluded from further analysis) searched for health information. Other frequent reasons were email (86%) and general information (79%). Only few respondents reported participating in forums, writing a blog or using Twitter but a third were active on Facebook. These results correspond to the trend described for the general population in Switzerland.
The top three queries concerned neuropathic pain (46%), low back pain (39%) and musculoskeletal pain (32%). Concerning analgesics, the most frequently searched were opioids (36%), antidepressants (29%) and antiepileptic drugs (25%). Eight out of ten participants taking opioids went online to find information about opioids, while this ratio was four out of eight for antidepressants and two out of seven for antiepileptic drugs.
A third of the respondents stated that online health information had a positive influence on them. This influence was mainly described as encouraging them to ask new questions to their physicians (43%). Only few reported changing their way to manage pain problems (14%). Overall, respondents felt satisfied with their online health searches (57%), but also overwhelmed with information quantity (21%). Half of the patients stressed the need for recommendations on how to evaluate quality of health information, 39% on how to optimize search, and 50% on a list of recommended websites from their physician. Furthermore, 57% would find it useful to have the possibility to ask questions on a secure website about patient information leaflets or to describe their treatment adverse effects.
Conclusion: The majority of these chronic pain patients have made an extensive use of Internet to search for health information. These patients were more prone to look for information about medications when they were receiving opioids or antidepressants. They reported to be satisfied with their online searches, but only few were actively involved online. However, a number of the respondents used the information to refine their questions and get back with them to their physician.