The Impact of Internet Health Information on Patient Compliance: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Patient compliance plays an important role in the relationship between the patient and the physicians. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the impact of internet health information on patient compliance.

Comprehensive searches of the databases were used to identify potentially eligible studies. No year range was set in this study. PRISMA guidelines have carried out this systematic view and meta-analysis. The two authors reviewed the studies based on inclusion criteria for systematic review. Statistical analysis was performed using CMA, version 2.0.

The results of this meta-analysis showed that the satisfaction and quality of Internet health information can have a positive effect on patient compliance with treatment.

Internet health information is widely available and interpreted in different ways, so it can positively or negatively affect patients' decision and performance to compliance to treatment. Therefore, physicians need to identify credible and understandable and the quality of health information websites, so that patients have access to quality information.