Attitudes of Iranian patients with skin problems towards using the Internet as a medical resource

Background: Internet use has grown rapidly in Iran, but there is no information about how Iranian Internet users gather medical information through this medium. Objective: To study the use of the Internet as a medical resource by Iranian patients with chronic dermatologic problems. Methods: We carried out a structured interview of all patients 20-40 years of age attending a private dermatology clinic between July and September 2003 for chronic skin disease. Results: Of the 205 patients enrolled in the study, 104 (50.8%) had computer access and 74 (36.1% of the total) had Internet access. Nine patients (4.4%) had performed a search on the Internet for their skin condition, but only one had used an academic website. Conclusion: Despite the significant growth in Internet use in Iran, it appears that the Internet is not a significant medical resource for patients in Iran.