Table 3.
Distribution of asthma management variables among Internet users (n=400).
| Variable | No (%) |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Time spent on internet for information about asthma (n=325) | |
| <10 min | 69 (21.2) |
| 10 to <30 min | 170 (52.3) |
| 30 to <60 | 49 (15.1 |
| >1 hour | 37 (11.4) |
| Internet use, upon physician advice (n=278) | |
| Yes | 32 (11.5) |
| No | 246 (88.5) |
| Type of search engine (n=400) | |
| Microsoft | 2 (0.5) |
| Yahoo | 22 (5.5) |
| 324 (81.0) | |
| No response | 52 (13.0) |
| Websites for information related to asthma (n=295) | |
| Medical base | 17 (5.8) |
| General medical website | 259 (87.8) |
| Specialized medical Journal | 11 (3.7) |
| Other | 8 (2.7) |
| Using Internet for medical purpose (n = 400) | |
| Need for clarification | 154 (38.5) |
| New management schemes | 64 (16.0) |
| Reassurance | 159 (39.8) |
| Online consulting | 76 (19.0) |
| Internet offered solutions to asthma related questions? (n=344) | |
| Never | 38 (11.0) |
| Sometimes | 271 (78.8) |
| Always | 35 (10.2) |
| Limitations faced while retrieving information related to asthma (n=400) | |
| Technical information (not easily understandable) | 102 (25.5) |
| Non-Arabic information | 229 (57.2) |
| Unavailable medicine in Saudi Arabia | 14 (3.5) |
| Others | 55 (13.8) |
| Suggested Internet uses for learning about asthma (n=400)* | |
| Online consulting with treating physician | 188 (47 %) |
| Online drug purchasing | 17 (4.2) |
| Online booking of appointments | 127 (31.8) |
| Online chatting with my doctor | 106 (26.5) |
| Obtaining updates of asthma | 152 (38.0 |
| Being directed to specific websites on asthma | 99 (24.8) |
| Using information from Internet for discussing child’s condition with child’s doctor (n=359) | |
| Yes, and he welcomed | 60 (16.7) |
| Yes, and did not welcome | 12 (3.3) |
| Never happened | 287 (80.0) |