The CMA's 2002 Physician Resource Questionnaire (PRQ) has determined that the once yawning gap between physicians' personal computer use and personal Internet use has disappeared. In 1997, only 41% of physicians reported using the Internet even though 74% were using computers; today, both computer and Internet use by MDs stands at 89%. Among those who do not currently use the Internet, 31% plan to do so within the next year.
Physicians in the youngest age groups are most likely to be online, with 96% of those under 35 and 94% of those aged 35–44 reporting that they use the Internet, compared with 82% of those aged 55–64 and 72% of those 65 and older. Female physicians are slightly less likely than males to use the Internet (87% vs. 89%), and urban physicians are slightly more likely to be online than their rural colleagues (89% vs. 85%).
This year marked the first time the PRQ asked physicians if their practice has a Web site, and almost 1 in 5 (17%) do. Among those who do not, 7% plan to create one in the coming year. Medical specialists were much more likely to have Web sites (23%) than GP/FPs (13%) and surgical specialists (15%).
Almost all physicians (90%) have had patients present them with medical information obtained on the Internet, up from 84% in 2000, and 20% refer their patients to medical Web sites weekly or daily, up from 14% in 2001; another 42% refer patients to the Web monthly or occasionally, up from 34% a year ago. This referral pattern is not restricted to physicians who use the Internet: of PRQ respondents who do not personally use the Internet, 27% still referred patients to medical Web sites.
The PRQ is Canada's largest annual survey of the professional activities of physicians. The 2002 survey was mailed to a random sample of 7693 doctors, and the response rate was 38%. Results at the national level are considered accurate to within ±1.9%, 19 times out of 20. Tables from the 2002 PRQ are available at www.ecmaj.com/cgi/content/full/167/5/521/DC1. — Shelley Martin, Senior Analyst, Research, Policy and Planning Directorate, CMA
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