Table 2.

Comparison and distribution between supplier (individual-medical expert, individual-patient/relative, expert association, medical institution, and pharmacetuical or medical technology company) and information categories.

Category	Supplier
	Individual (medical expert)		Individual (patient/relative)		Expert association		Medical institution		Pharmaceutical or medical technology company
	n (%)	Supplier %	n (%)	Supplier %	n (%)	Supplier %	n (%)	Supplier %	n (%)	Supplier %
Medication, curative means, and aids	12 (3.3)	41.4	26 (7.2)	50.0	18 (5.0)	45.0	79 (22.0)	42.5	22 (6.1)	84.6
Information exchange with other patients	8 (2.5)	27.6	41 (12.8)	78.9	6 (1.9)	15.0	8 (2.5)	4.3	3 (0.9)	11.5
Diagnostics	22 (4.3)	75.9	27 (5.2)	51.9	30 (5.8)	75.0	158 (30.6)	85.0	21 (4.1)	80.8
Research	11 (4.3)	37.9	11 (4.3)	21.2	20 (7.8)	50.0	92 (36.2)	49.5	5 (2.0)	19.2
Training and continued education	6 (4.7)	20.7	3 (2.3)	5.8	13 (10.2)	32.5	46 (35.9)	24.7	0 (0.0)	0.0
Assistance for self-help	9 (2.6)	31.0	21 (6.1)	40.4	17 (4.9)	42.5	32 (9.2)	17.2	11 (3.2)	42.3
Desire to have children/family planning	5 (5.4)	17.2	6 (6.5)	11.5	1 (1.1)	2.5	14 (15.1)	7.5	5 (5.4)	19.2
Disease pattern/symptoms	28 (4.4)	96.6	47 (7.4)	90.4	32 (5.1)	80.0	165 (26.1)	88.7	23 (3.6)	88.5
Personal advice	6 (3.7)	20.7	2 (1.2)	3.9	7 (4.3)	17.5	41 (25.0)	22.0	5 (3.0)	19.2
Psychosocialcounseling	0 (0.0)	0.0	0 (0.0)	0.0	2 (4.1)	5.0	10 (20.4)	5.4	0 (0.0)	0.0
Other therapy options	16 (5.0)	55.2	27 (8.5)	51.9	15 (4.7)	37.5	98 (30.9)	52.7	11 (3.5)	42.3
Social-legal advice	1 (1.2)	3.5	2 (2.3)	3.9	3 (3.5)	7.5	13 (15.1)	7.0	4 (4.7)	15.4
Therapeutic guidelines	6 (5.9)	20.7	3 (3.0)	5.8	10 (9.9)	25.0	26 (25.7)	14.0	2 (2.0)	7.7
Advice from doctors	4 (3.4)	13.8	0 (0.0)	0.0	18 (15.5)	45.0	62 (53.5)	33.3	5 (4.3)	19.2