Table 3. The correlation between the independent variables and the effects of online searching: multiple regression analysis.

Variable	F	R2	Age category, b	Degree, b	Frequency of internet use, b	Frequency of internet use for health information, b	Frequency of GP visits, b
GP 1	11.42 a	0.08	0.07 b	0.02	0.09	0.01	0.39 a
Not going to the GP anymore 2	4.88 b	0.04	0.03	0.01	−0.01	0.18 a	−0.12 c
More likely to go to the GP 3	3.42 b	0.03	0.03	−0.05	−0.03	0.10 c	0.11
Self-medication without advice 4	5.54 a	0.04	−0.01	0.03	0.09	0.12 b	−0.08
No medication anymore 5	4.72 b	0.04	−0.02	−0.01	0.05	0.19 a	−0.06
Reassurance 6	4.67 b	0.04	0.03	−0.01	−0.04	0.18 a	−0.09
Increased anxiety 7	9.50 a	0.07	−0.06 b	0.002	0.04	0.19 a	0.22 a
Increased severity of symptoms	1.60	0.01	−0.02	−0.01	0.09	0.05	0.06
Decreased severity of symptoms 9	2.76 c	0.02	−0.03	−0.002	−0.03	0.15 b	−0.01
Additional symptoms 10	4.48 b	0.03	−0.04	0.03	0.05	0.12 b	0.15 b
More confidence in the GP 11	1.61	0.02	0.04	−0.03	−0.08	−0.05	0.10
Less confidence in the GP 12	5.31 a	0.04	0.01	−0.03	0.03	0.18 a	−0.02

b = regression coefficient. ^a P<0.0001. ^b P<0.01. ^a P<0.05. 

Statements 'After my online search for health information …':

¹ I go to the GP

² I do not go to the GP although this was the original plan before the search.

³ I am more likely to visit the GP than I intended before the search.

⁴ I start medication without consulting a doctor.

⁵ I do not think I need medication although I did think this before the search.

⁶ I am reassured.

⁷ My worries about my symptoms increase.

⁸ I have the feeling my symptoms got better.

⁹ I have the feeling my symptoms got worse.

¹⁰ I notice additional complaints I did not notice before the search.

¹¹ I have more confidence in my GP than before the search.

¹² I have less confidence in my GP than before the search.