Self-epistemic authority and nurses' reactions to medical information that is retrieved from Internet sites of different credibility

Abstract

This cross-sectional study investigated nurses' reactions to Internet medical information that was retrieved from sources of different scientific credibility and the association between self-epistemic authority and these reactions. The participants filled in questionnaires on their reactions to Internet medical information and self-epistemic authority. The nurses' reactions to Internet medical information from a highly credible source (Medline) correlated positively with self-epistemic authority. However, no such correlation was found with Internet medical information from a less credible Internet source (Ynet). Compared with the nurses without an academic degree, the nurses with an academic degree had more positive reactions to the information that was retrieved from Medline. The reactions to the medical information that was retrieved from Ynet did not differ by the education of the nurses. This study shows that nurses' reactions to different sources of Internet information vary according to their level of self-epistemic authority and education. As patients' use of Internet medical information is increasing, nurses need to expand their expertise in the various professional and popular medical information sites. Such skills will help to reduce any negative feeling that might arise when they encounter patients who present medical information from the Internet.