Survey on the consumer preference for the internet health information of the patients' online community members

Objective: This study was carried out to obtain basic data required to plan and develop consumer centered internet health information site for Korean population. Methods: An intemet survey was conducted on 5 internet patient community sites between 23 January and 5 February, 2007. A total of 958 surveys were completed and included in the study. Data were analyzed with descriptive analysis, Pearson's correlation analysis, and stepwise logistic regression analysis using SPSS version 12.0. Results: According to our logistic regression analysis, the more internet usage, foreign country residents, members of breast cancer intemet community, any workers except sales, and higher level of necessity/usefulness/reliability showed a higher Odds ratio for frequency of internet health information usage. Educational status, frequency of using internet, importance, necessity, usefulness, reliability of internet health information (p<.001), income, and satisfaction of internet health information (p<.05) were statistically significant in the frequency of internet health information usage. Conclusion: Above characteristics should be considered for planning to develop consumer centered intemet health information portals.