E-health information as a support of health information technology systems : patients attitudes

The use of e-health information is becoming a common practice among patients, and the decision to browse the Internet is related to attitudes towards online health information. How these attitudes are shaped depends on the impact of many variables. This author aims to verify a model describing the process of forming attitudes towards using the Internet as a source of health information. The acquisition of knowledge is significant and important support in health information technology from the viewpoint of the patient as well as the health care system.

The results of primary research in the form of a face-to-face survey carried out with 300 patients show that health awareness, perceived health risk, Internet health information use efficacy, ease of use and usefulness and credibility of the Internet as a source of health information significantly shape patients' attitudes towards using e-health information. Confirmed motivations and attitudes of patients raise the level of awareness in the area of behaviour of system participants and the belief that the implementation of actions improving e-health competences of the population is a significant step towards better functioning decision support of health care systems.