Improving patient information - are the new media already requested? - A questionnaire study at a gastroenterology outpatient clinic.

Background Information provided for patients is an essential factor for communication between patients and health-care professionals. To analyze the most used sources of medical information and requested media for patient information, a questionnaire study was initiated. Methods A single-center questionnaire study at an outpatient clinic at a tertiary care hospital. Two hundred participating patients, average age 54.4 years (1: 1.5 m:f). Results were displayed in total and as count per participant (i.e., how often is a medium mentioned per participant). Results As a source for general information, printed media are mentioned 112 times (0.56 counts per participant), the Internet 125 (0.62), and television 124 (0.62). As a source for medical information, printed media were mentioned 84 times (0.42) and the Internet 133 (0.67). As the most requested source for additional patient information, printed media were mentioned 105 times (0.53) and medical apps 63 (0.32). Conclusion A majority of our patients regularly use the Internet for medical information. Paper-print media are still highly requested by patients. New media are more often requested in younger patients but still reach the ages for screening programs and therefore offer big opportunities towards patient-doctor communication. By a good mixture of media provided a higher patient satisfaction and adherence could be ensured by the health-care professionals.