Internet Usage by Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Implications to Participatory Medicine and Personalized Healthcare

Overview

Journal Mult Scler Int

Publisher Wiley

Date 2011 Nov 19

PMID 22096625

Citations 31

Authors

Izabella Lejbkowicz

Tamar Paperna

Nili Stein

Sara Dishon

Ariel Miller

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Online health information and services for patients were suggested to improve symptom management and treatment adherence, thereby contributing to healthcare optimization. This paper aimed to characterize multiple sclerosis (MS) patients Internet usage. Information regarding browsing habits, Internet reliability, and the medical team's attitude to information collected online was obtained by questionnaires from MS patients. Data was compared between nonbrowsers, browsers on MS topics, and browsers on non-MS topics only. From the 96 patients recruited, 61 (63.5%) performed MS-related searches. The most viewed topics were "understanding the disease" and "treatments". Patients reported that the information helped coping with MS and assured them of the appropriateness of their therapy. Shorter disease duration was correlated with higher Internet activity. Disabled patients were more interested in online interaction with specialists and support groups. This paper suggests that MS patients benefit from online information, and it emphasizes the importance of resources tailored to patients needs.

Citing Articles

Evaluating the Knowledge and Information-Seeking Behaviors of People Living With Multiple Sclerosis: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.

Duguay V, Comeau D, Turgeon T, Bouhamdani N, Belanger M, Weston L J Med Internet Res. 2025; 27:e63763.

PMID: 39998866 PMC: 11897666. DOI: 10.2196/63763.

Cost-effectiveness of the Floodlight MS app in Austria. Unlocking the mystery of costs and outcomes of a digital health application for patients with multiple sclerosis.

Walter E, Traunfellner M, Meyer F, Enzinger C, Guger M, Bsteh C Digit Health. 2025; 11:20552076251314550.

PMID: 39911717 PMC: 11795621. DOI: 10.1177/20552076251314550.

Desired Resources for Changing Diet Among Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: Qualitative Inquiry Informing Future Dietary Interventions.

Silveira S, Richardson E, Motl R Int J MS Care. 2022; 24(4):175-183.

PMID: 35875458 PMC: 9296057. DOI: 10.7224/1537-2073.2021-052.

The Feasibility of a Web-Based Educational Lifestyle Program for People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Bevens W, Weiland T, Gray K, Neate S, Nag N, Simpson-Yap S Front Public Health. 2022; 10:852214.

PMID: 35570898 PMC: 9092338. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.852214.

Innovating Care in Multiple Sclerosis: Feasibility of Synchronous Internet-Based Teleconsultation for Longitudinal Clinical Monitoring.

Sadeghi N, Eelen P, Nagels G, Cuvelier C, Van Gils K, Dhooghe M J Pers Med. 2022; 12(3).

PMID: 35330433 PMC: 8948780. DOI: 10.3390/jpm12030433.

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