BackgroundOver the last decade, the Internet has become an important source of health-related information for a wide range of users worldwide. Yet, little is known about the personal characteristics of Egyptian Internet users who search for online health information (OHI).ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to identify the personal characteristics of Egyptian OHI seekers and to determine any associations between their personal characteristics and their health information-seeking behavior.Methods This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from June to October 2015. A Web-based questionnaire was sent to Egyptian users aged 18 years and older (N=1400) of a popular Arabic-language health information website. The questionnaire included (1) demographic characteristics; (2) self-reported general health status; and (3) OHI-seeking behavior that included frequency of use, different topics sought, and self-reported impact of obtained OHI on health behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis.ResultsA total of 490 participants completed the electronic questionnaire with a response rate equivalent to 35.0% (490/1400). Regarding personal characteristics, 57.1% (280/490) of participants were females, 63.4% (311/490) had a university level qualification, and 37.1% (182/490) had a chronic health problem. The most commonly sought OHI by the participants was nutrition-related. Results of the multiple regression analysis showed that 31.0% of the variance in frequency of seeking OHI among Egyptian adults can be predicted by personal characteristics. Participants who sought OHI more frequently were likely to be female, of younger age, had higher education levels, and good self-reported general health.ConclusionsOur results provide insights into personal characteristics and OHI-seeking behaviors of Egyptian OHI users. This will contribute to better recognize their needs, highlight ways to increase the availability of appropriate OHI, and may lead to the provision of tools allowing Egyptian OHI users to navigate to the highest-quality health information.

BACKGROUND The Internet has become an established source of health information for many Egyptian internet users. Understanding users’ perceptions of the benefits and limitations of online health information will explain the influence of this information on users’ health-related behaviour and decisions. OBJECTIVE This qualitative study aimed to understand the attitude of Egyptian internet users towards internet health information and to explore the impact of obtained health information on users’ behaviour and on their doctor-patient relationship. METHODS For this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a total of 49 participants (41 Egyptian internet users, and 8 physicians) who took part in focus groups or individual interviews. We used a thematic analysis approach to explain and demonstrate participants' views, thoughts, and experiences in using OHI. RESULTS The internet has become an important source of health information in comparison to other health information sources” is the central theme that has emerged across the thematic analysis. The attitude towards the use of internet health was classified into three main themes: 1) feeling towards the online health information (with sub-themes: favouring, disliking, neutral, or having ambivalence feelings.), 2) motivators to seek internet health information and 3) behavioural changes with using internet health (sub-themes: confidence, satisfaction and improv knowledge). Themes emerged from physicians’ interview included the accessibility of the internet health information, good communication, and coordination of care between patients and their physicians, and the active engagement of patients with their management plan. CONCLUSIONS Internet became an essential source of health information for Egyptian adults. Internet health information can improve the patient-physician relationship especially when users discuss the obtained health information with their physician. Internet health information provided seekers with social support and self-confidence when taking health decisions.

Background:The Internet has become a fundamental source of health-related information especially for chronic diseases as Diabetes Mellitus. The aim of this study was to explain the health information-seeking behavior using internet health information among Egyptian adults with diabetes. Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June to October 2019. A Web-based questionnaire was sent to Egyptian internet users aged 18 years and older (N=380) of a popular Arabic-language health information website. The online questionnaire form included personal characteristics, preference of using internet health information and explore the impact of obtained health information on users' health behavior. Results: A total of 283 participants completed the Web-based questionnaire with a response rate of 74.5 % (283/380). Personal characteristics of the participants showed that 161 (56.8 %) participants were aged under 35 years, 182 (64.3%) were female, and 110(38.8%) had a good general health status. Participants prefer seeking OHI for an existing health problem were 138 (48.8%), while 106 (37.4%) participants seek OHI when having a new health problem. Internet health information helped 192 (67.9%) participants to improve their understanding of their health problem, 160 (56.7%) participants reported has decreased their unnecessary visits to their physicians, helped 179 (63.4%) participants to take an active role in their diabetes health management, and 186 (65.9%) participants reported applying healthy changes in their lifestyle. Conclusions: Younger individuals with higher education more likely to seek health information from the internet. Participants mentioned convenience and anonymity as the main reasons to search for diabetes health information on the internet. Internet health information can promote users' healthy behavior changes.

Background The internet has become an established source of health information for many Egyptian internet users. Understanding users’ attitudes toward the benefits and limitations of web-based health information will explain the influence of this information on users’ health-related behavior and decisions. Objective This qualitative study aims to understand the attitude of Egyptian internet users toward internet health information and to explore the impact of obtained health information on users’ behavior and on their physician-patient relationship. Methods For this qualitative study, semistructured interviews were conducted with a total of 49 participants (41/49, 84% Egyptian internet users and 8/49, 16% physicians) who participated in focus groups or individual interviews. We used a thematic analysis approach to explain and demonstrate participants’ views, thoughts, and experiences in using web-based health information. Results The internet has become an important source of health information in comparison with other health information sources and is the central theme that has emerged across the thematic analysis. The attitude toward the use of internet health was classified into three main themes: feeling toward web-based health information (with subthemes: favoring, disliking, neutral, or having ambivalence feelings), motivators to seek internet health information, and behavioral changes using internet health information (subthemes: confidence, satisfaction, and improved knowledge). Themes that emerged from physicians’ interviews included the accessibility of the internet health information, good communication, and coordination of care between patients and their physicians, and the active engagement of patients with their management plan. Conclusions The internet has become an essential source of health information for Egyptian adults. Internet health information can improve the patient-physician relationship, especially when users discuss the obtained health information with their physician. Internet health information provided seekers with social support and self-confidence when making health decisions.