Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF ) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (9)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Haagen, E.C.
Right arrow Articles by Kremer, J.A.M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Haagen, E.C.
Right arrow Articles by Kremer, J.A.M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 10, 2073-2078, October 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Current Internet use and preferences of IVF and ICSI patients

E.C. Haagen1, W. Tuil1,2, J. Hendriks3, R.P.J.de Bruijn1, D.D.M. Braat1 and J.A.M. Kremer1,4

1 Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen and 2 Division of Medical Information and 3 Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

4 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. e-mail: J.Kremer{at}obgyn.umcn.nl

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, the Internet has a tremendous impact on modern society, including healthcare practice. The study aim was to characterize current Internet use by IVF and ICSI patients and to identify their preferences regarding Internet applications in fertility care. METHODS: A total of 163 couples with fertility problems awaiting an IVF or ICSI procedure in the University Medical Centre Nijmegen, The Netherlands, was asked to complete a written questionnaire on Internet use in general, and also for fertility-related problems, preferences regarding Internet applications in fertility care and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The response rate was 82%. In total, 81% of infertile couples used the Internet. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed ethnic background and annual family income to be significant predictors of Internet use. Some 66% of Internet users and 54% of the total study population used the Internet for fertility-related problems. The female partners were the main Internet users with regard to fertility-related issues. In terms of preferences of the study participants, the majority favoured personal medical information online. CONCLUSIONS: Most infertile couples used the Internet with respect to fertility-related problems and were interested in implementation of Internet applications in fertility care. Healthcare providers should actively participate in the development and implementation of Internet applications in fertility care.

Key words: Fertility problems/ICSI/Internet/IVF/preferences


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
L. Bunting and J. Boivin
Decision-making about seeking medical advice in an internet sample of women trying to get pregnant
Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2007; 22(6): 1662 - 1668.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
W.S. Tuil, A.J. ten Hoopen, D.D.M. Braat, P.F. de Vries Robbe, and J.A.M. Kremer
Patient-centred care: using online personal medical records in IVF practice
Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2006; 21(11): 2955 - 2959.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.