The Internet as a vehicle to communicate health information during a public health emergency

[Sally Furniss]

The Internet as a vehicle to communicate health information during a public health emergency: a survey analysis involving the anthrax scare of 2001.

<!--AuthorList-->Kittler AF, Hobbs J, Volk LA, Kreps GL, Bates DW. 2004


Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02129-1683, USA.
BACKGROUND: The recent public health risks arising from bioterrorist threats and outbreaks of infectious diseases like SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) highlight the challenges of effectively communicating accurate health information to an alarmed public.


OBJECTIVE: To evaluate use of the Internet in accessing information related to the anthrax scare in the United States in late 2001, and to strategize about the most effective use of this technology as a communication vehicle during times of public health crises. METHODS: A paper-based survey to assess how individuals obtained health information relating to bioterrorism and anthrax during late 2001.We surveyed 500 randomly selected patients from two ambulatory primary care clinics affiliated with the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.


RESULTS: The response rate was 42%. While traditional media provided the primary source of information on anthrax and bioterrorism, 21% (95% CI, 15%-27%) of respondents reported searching the Internet for this information during late 2001. Respondents reported trusting information from physicians the most, and information from health websites slightly more than information from any traditional media source. Over half of those searching the Internet reported changing their behavior as a result of information found online.


CONCLUSIONS: Many people already look to the Internet for information during a public health crisis, and information found online can positively influence behavioral responses to such crises. However, the potential of the Internet to convey accurate health information and advice has not yet been realized. In order to enhance the effectiveness of public-health communication, physician practices could use this technology to pro-actively e-mail their patients validated information. Still, unless Internet access becomes more broadly available, its benefits will not accrue to disadvantaged populations.

PMID: 15111274 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15111274?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=2&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: The Internet as a vehicle to communicate health information during a public health emergency

<table align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" width="770"><tbody><tr class="ignore"><td height="128">

[SIZE=+2]TOP 20 COUNTRIES WITH
THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF INTERNET USERS
[/SIZE]​

</td> </tr> <tr class="ignore"> <td>
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

<table bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" width="766"><tbody><tr> <td> <center> <table onmouseover="changeto(event, '#FFFFCC')" onmouseout="changeback(event, 'white')" border="1" width="730"> <tbody><tr id="ignore" bgcolor="#cccc99"> <th colspan="7" align="center" height="39" width="610"> <table align="center" border="0" height="40" width="730"> <tbody><tr id="ignore"> <td>

[SIZE=+1]TOP 20 COUNTRIES WITH HIGHEST NUMBER OF INTERNET USERS[/SIZE]​

</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </th> </tr> <tr id="ignore" bgcolor="#cccc99"> <th height="18" width="25"> [SIZE=-1]#[/SIZE]
</th> <td height="18" width="130">

[SIZE=-1]Country or Region[/SIZE]​

</td> <td height="18" width="100">

[SIZE=-1]Internet Users,
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Latest Data[/SIZE]​

</td> <td height="18" width="90">

[SIZE=-1]Penetration
(% Population)[/SIZE]​

</td> <td height="18" width="90">

[SIZE=-1]% of World
Users[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="center" height="18" width="120">

[SIZE=-1]Population
(2008 Est.)[/SIZE]​

</td> <td height="18" width="90">

[SIZE=-1]I. Growth
(2000 - 2008)[/SIZE]​

</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]1[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]United States[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]218,302,574[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]71.9 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]15.5 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="120">

[SIZE=-1] 303,824,646[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]128.9 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;" bgcolor="#f1f1f1"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]2[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]China[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]210,000,000[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]15.8 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]14.9 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="120">

[SIZE=-1] 1,330,044,605[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]833.3 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;"> <td align="right" width="25">

[SIZE=-1]3[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Japan[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]94,000,000[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]73.8 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]6.7 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="120"> [SIZE=-1] 127,288,419[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]99.7 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;" bgcolor="#f1f1f1"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]4[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]India[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]60,000,000[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]5.2 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]4.3 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]1,147,995,898[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]1,100.0 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]5[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Germany[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="100">

[SIZE=-1]54,932,543[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]66.7 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]3.9 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]82,369,548[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1] 128.9 %[/SIZE]​

</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;" bgcolor="#f1f1f1"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]6[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1] Brazil[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]50,000,000[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]26.1 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]3.6 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]191,908,598[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]900.0 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]7[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]United Kingdom[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]41,042,819[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]67.3 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]2.9 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1] 60,943,912[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]166.5 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;" bgcolor="#f1f1f1"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]8[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1] France[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]36,153,327[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]58.1 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]2.6 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]62,177,676[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]325.3 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]9[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Korea, South[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="100">

[SIZE=-1]34,820,000[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]70.7 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]2.5 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1] 49,232,844[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]82.9 %[/SIZE]​

</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;" bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]10[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Italy[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100">

[SIZE=-1]33,712,383[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]58.0 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]2.4 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]58,145,321[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]155.4 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]11[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Russia[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="100">

[SIZE=-1]30,000,000[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]21.3 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]2.1 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]140,702,094[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]867.7 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;" bgcolor="#f1f1f1"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]12[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Canada[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="100">

[SIZE=-1]28,000,000[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]84.3 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]2.0 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]33,212,696[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]120.5 %[/SIZE]​

</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]13[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Turkey[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]26,500,000[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]36.9 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]1.9 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]71,892,807[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]1,225.0 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;" bgcolor="#f1f1f1"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]14[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Spain[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]25,066,995[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]61.9 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]1.8 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]40,491,051[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]365.3 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]15[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Mexico[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]23,700,000[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]21.6 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]1.7 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]109,955,400[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]773.8 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;" bgcolor="#f1f1f1"> <td height="17" width="25">

[SIZE=-1]16[/SIZE]​

</td> <td height="17" width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Indonesia[/SIZE]
</td> <td height="17" width="100">

[SIZE=-1]20,000,000[/SIZE]​

</td> <td height="17" width="90">

[SIZE=-1]8.4 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td height="17" width="90">

[SIZE=-1]1.4 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td height="17" width="120">

[SIZE=-1] 237,512,355[/SIZE]​

</td> <td height="17" width="90">

[SIZE=-1]900.0 %[/SIZE]​

</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]17[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Vietnam[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]19,323,062[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]22.4 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]1.4 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]86,116,559[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]9,561.5 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;" bgcolor="#f1f1f1"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]18[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Argentina[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]16,000,000[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]39.3 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]1.1 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]40,677,348[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]540.0 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]19[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Australia[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]15,504,558[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]75.3 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]1.1 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]20,600,856[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]134.9 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;" bgcolor="#f1f1f1"> <td width="25">

[SIZE=-1]20[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="130"> [SIZE=-1]Taiwan[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]15,400,000[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]67.2 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]1.1 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1]22,920,946[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]146.0 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;" bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td colspan="2" bgcolor="#cccccc" width="155"> [SIZE=-1]TOP 20 Countries[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#cccccc" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]1,052,458,261[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#cccccc" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]25.0 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td bgcolor="#cccccc" width="90">

[SIZE=-1]74.8 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td bgcolor="#cccccc" width="120">

[SIZE=-1] 4,218,013,579[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#cccccc" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]252.5 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: white;"> <td colspan="2" width="155"> [SIZE=-1]Rest of the World[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]355,266,659[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]14.5 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td width="90">

[SIZE=-1]25.2 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1] 2,458,106,709[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1] 468.9 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> <tr id="ignore" bgcolor="#cccccc"> <td colspan="2" bgcolor="#cccccc" width="155"> [SIZE=-1]Total World - Users[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#cccccc" width="100"> [SIZE=-1]1,407,724,920[/SIZE]
</td> <td align="right" bgcolor="#cccccc" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]21.1 %[/SIZE]
</td> <td bgcolor="#cccccc" width="90">

[SIZE=-1]100.0 %[/SIZE]​

</td> <td width="120">

[SIZE=-1] 6,676,120,288[/SIZE]​

</td> <td align="right" width="90"> [SIZE=-1]290.0 %[/SIZE]
</td> </tr> </tbody></table> </center> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <center> <table border="0" width="710"> <tbody><tr> <td> [SIZE=-1]NOTES: (1) World Internet User Statistics were updated on March 31, 2008. (2) Additional data for individual countries and regions may be found by clicking each country name. (3) The most recent user information comes from data published by[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Nielsen//NetRatings[/SIZE][SIZE=-1],[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]International Telecommunications Union[/SIZE][SIZE=-1], Official country reports, and other trustworthy research sources. (6) Data from this site may be cited, giving due credit and establishing an live link back to[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Internet World Stats[/SIZE][SIZE=-1].[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Copyright ? 2001 - 2008, Miniwatts Marketing Group. All rights reserved.
http://www.internetworldstats.com/top20.htm
[/SIZE]
</td></tr></tbody></table></center></td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[Thornton]

Re: The Internet as a vehicle to communicate health information during a public health emergency

Not sure where to post this so I invite any of the other moderators to re-locate it.

Fla Medic on post #6
http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79510v
mentions a link to the forums of the Houston TV KHOU.
http://www.khou.com/forums/

I have family in the Houston area. They have no power and no internet access but they do have cell phones and text messaging. I have been scanning the forum from their neighborhood and then passing info via text messages.

Our modern paradox - I am over a thousand miles away and can tell them more on what is happening within a mile of their house than they could learn otherwise.

This type of adaptability is encouraging on how we develop our responses to disasters.

Joe Thornton

 

[JJackson]

Re: The Internet as a vehicle to communicate health information during a public health emergency

Warning sounded on web's future By Pallab Ghosh
Science correspondent, BBC News

Some feared firing up the LHC would doom the Earth
The internet needs a way to help people separate rumour from real science, says the creator of the World Wide Web.
Talking to BBC News Sir Tim Berners-Lee said he was increasingly worried about the way the web has been used to spread disinformation.
Sir Tim was speaking in advance of an announcement about a Foundation he has helped create that will vet websites.
The Foundation will brand sites that it has found to be trustworthy and reliable sources of information.
Future proof
Sir Tim talked to the BBC in the week in which Cern, where he did his pioneering work on the web, turned on the Large Hadron Collider for the first time. The use of the web to spread fears that flicking the switch on the LHC could create a Black Hole that could swallow up the Earth particularly concerned him, he said. In a similar vein was the spread of rumours that the MMR vaccine given to children in Britain was harmful.
full article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7613201.stm


While I have my doubts about how effective a site rating system might be he raises a number of important points about the role the internet has, and is, playing in the explanation of complex subjects.

I can expound some hair brained thought on this site which a visitor may read and then read an opposing view by someone who has worked in the field for years and give them equal weight. In fact I have no relevant academic qualifications and have never worked on bird flu and have, on more than one occasion, vigorously disputed the findings of peer reviewed papers on the subject. While I am a minor problem the much more serious problem is the use of the internet as a relatively inexpensive extension of the lobby group/think tank phenomenon. The text book case-study in this field has been the rearguard action fought by the climate sceptics and the masterful manner in which interest groups kept the debate alive in the public's eye after the core issues had affectively been accepted by the climatologists.

That is not to say the scientific consensus is necessarily right, one should always say phlogiston three times before going to bed.

He also makes some interesting points on

+ How 'West Centric' it is - born out by the table in post #2.

+ The need to restructure content so it can reach its full potential first by making it more accessible to the masses in the third world with mobile phones, but no computer, and to avoid text making it available to the billions who are illiterate or are only literate in a language that most content is not available in.







</IMG></IMG>

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: The Internet as a vehicle to communicate health information during a public health emergency

+ The need to restructure content so it can reach its full potential first by making it more accessible to the masses in the third world with mobile phones, but no computer, and to avoid text making it available to the billions who are illiterate or are only literate in a language that most content is not available in.

This is an important point. As the western world (and first world countries) rely on the internet and broadband communication, mobile phones are the communication medium in third world countries.

Because most of the cases of human H5N1 have occurred in developing nations, it would be beneficial to consider developing pandemic information and warning message that can be transmitted via mobile phones in these countries. This would be especially critical once a pandemic has started.

 

[tropical]

Re: The Internet as a vehicle to communicate health information during a public health emergency

Cell phones SMS ok.

Post text 4#:

"The internet needs a way to help people separate rumour from real science, ..."

That's right, but this can be achieved by harvesting the internet news and the real science news on the same item.

If the real science has only hermetic/billing/restricted news sites with no, covert, or esigue published news on the same item, than the masses will look more at the wide internet news about, even if it can be a rumour.

If the science estab. published real time exact real news on the searched item, than the masses will know that other internet stories was probably missinterpretations.


"... the much more serious problem is the use of the internet as a relatively inexpensive extension of the lobby group/think tank phenomenon ..."

We can counter to this thinking with saying that it's also relatively inexpensive for the non loby groups expressions compared with their actual possibilities of TV/radio/papers expressions.