Internet-Initiated Patient Characteristics

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the differences between patients who access an oculoplastic practice via the Internet from patients who are referred by other physicians or patients. A retrospective chart review of sequential patients who accessed an oculoplastic practice via the Internet from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2014, was reviewed. A comparison group of the next sequential chart number after each Internet patient was also reviewed. One hundred eighty-nine Internet patients and 165 non-Internet patients were identified. The average age of the Internet patients was 52 years (range, 19-82 years) and non-Internet patients was 51.8 years (range, 1-82 years). The Internet patients were more likely to be female. (P < .0001). The average income per household of the Internet patients was $61,415 as compared with the non-Internet patients at $54,389 (P = .003); they were also more likely to have private insurance (87% vs. 61%, respectively) (P < .01). A surgical procedure was more likely to be performed in the Internet group (71%) versus the non-Internet group (58%) (P = .003). Internet patients were more likely to have cosmetic and/or functional procedures (P < .0001). Postoperative visits (P = .001) and phone calls (P = .03) were significantly higher for Internet patients. The patients who accessed the practice via Internet were most likely to be a middle-aged female and reside in zip codes with higher household incomes. They were more likely to undergo cosmetic surgery and averaged more postoperative visits and phone calls.