Table 1.
Characteristics of information providers (N=693).
| Item | n (%) | |
| Supplier category |
|
|
|
|
Support group/patient organization | 269 (38.8) |
|
|
Medical institution | 186 (26.8) |
|
|
Other associations and sponsoring bodies | 65 (9.4) |
|
|
Individual (patient/relative) | 52 (7.5) |
|
|
Expert association | 40 (5.8) |
|
|
Individual (medical expert) | 29 (4.2) |
|
|
Pharmaceutical or medical technology company | 26 (3.8) |
|
|
Publishing or media company | 21 (3.0) |
|
|
Other | 5 (0.7) |
| Information category (multiple answers possible) |
|
|
|
|
Disease pattern/symptoms | 633 (91.3) |
|
|
Diagnostics | 517 (74.6) |
|
|
Medication, curative means, and aids | 359 (51.8) |
|
|
Assistance for self-help | 347 (50.1) |
|
|
Information exchange with other patients | 320 (46.2) |
|
|
Other therapy options | 317 (45.7) |
|
|
Research | 254 (36.7) |
|
|
Personal advice | 164 (23.7) |
|
|
Training and continued education | 128 (18.5) |
|
|
Advice from doctors | 116 (16.7) |
|
|
Therapeutic guidelines | 101 (14.6) |
|
|
Desire to have children/family planning | 93 (13.4) |
|
|
Social-legal advice | 86 (12.4) |
|
|
Psychosocial counseling | 49 (7.1) |
| Language (multiple answers possible) |
|
|
|
|
German | 682 (98.4) |
|
|
English | 108 (15.6) |
| Country |
|
|
|
|
Germany | 632 (91.2) |
|
|
Switzerland | 40 (5.8) |
|
|
Austria | 21 (3.0) |
| Target group (multiple answers possible) |
|
|
|
|
Adults | 662 (95.5) |
|
|
Children | 235 (33.9) |
|
|
Medical professionals | 221 (31.9) |
| Self-disclosure |
|
|
|
|
Accomplished by the supplier | 123 (17.7) |
|
|
Accomplished by authors | 570 (82.3) |