The Impact of Treatment-Related Internet Health Information Seeking on Patient Compliance

Background: Patients are increasingly using technology to seek health information, particularly on treatments. Treatment-related internet health information-seeking behavior may have impact on patients' trust in their physicians and the patient–physician relationship. Therefore, understanding the impacts of treatment-related internet health information-seeking behavior on patient–physician relationship, especially patient compliance, from the perspective of trust is important. Methods: The established research model has two independent variables (emerging and mature treatment-related internet health information seeking), two mediators (cognition- and affect-based trust), and one dependent variable (patient compliance). All variables were measured using previously validated multiple-item scales. We collected data through a web-based questionnaire survey in China and obtained 336 valid responses. The questionnaire validity rate was 89.6% (336/375), and reliability and validity were acceptable. Finally, we used confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses and develop the research model. Results: Cognition- and affect-based trust had a direct positive impact on patient compliance. Cognition-based trust had a direct positive impact on affect-based trust. Mature treatment-related internet health information seeking had a significant positive impact on patient compliance through patients' cognition- and affect-based trust in their physicians. However, the emerging treatment-related internet health information seeking indicated a nonsignificant impact on patients' cognition- and affect-based trust in their physicians. Conclusions: Providing patients with access to treatment-related internet health information will not have a negative impact on the patient–physician relationship. Instead, encouraging patients to seek treatment-related health information online can improve patient compliance. Physicians can also learn much about health information related to emerging treatments to enhance their professionalism and reliability.