Résumé
There is considerable international interest in online education of patients with bipolar disorder, yet little understanding of how patients use the Internet and other sources to seek information. 1171 patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder in 17 countries completed a paper-based, anonymous survey. 81% of the patients used the Internet, a percentage similar to the general public. Older age, less education, and challenges in country telecommunications infrastructure and demographics decreased the odds of using the Internet. About 78% of the Internet users looked online for information on bipolar disorder or 63% of the total sample. More years of education in relation to the country mean, and feeling very confident about managing life decreased the odds of seeking information on bipolar disorder online, while having attended support groups increased the odds. Patients who looked online for information on bipolar disorder consulted medical professionals plus a mean of 2.3 other information sources such as books, physician handouts, and others with bipolar disorder. Patients not using the Internet consulted medical professionals plus a mean of 1.6 other information sources. The percentage of patients with bipolar disorder who use the Internet is about the same as the general public. Other information sources remain important.
Langue d'origine | English |
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Pages (de-à) | 388-394 |
Nombre de pages | 7 |
Journal | Psychiatry Research |
Volume | 242 |
DOI | |
Statut de publication | Published - août 30 2016 |
Note bibliographique
Funding Information:We thank Kerstin Heyde, Christiane Otto and Katharina Schultheiss for data entry, and Daniela Jany for assistance in preparing the manuscript for submission. M Berk is supported by a NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship 1059660.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Biological Psychiatry
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article