Investigation of trends in patients with pollinosis using the website

BACKGROUND: The information about Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) from the Internet is growing these days. We examined the effects of the pollen information on people who have JCP. METHODS: We conducted web research from 2003 to 2006 between February 1st and April 30th on a pharmaceutical company's website. RESULTS: On a gender basis, women tended to seek information about JCP more than men did. Furthermore, women consulted a doctor when the amount of pollen was large, while men didn't. People who made wide use of the pollen information had a behavioral tendency to seek consultation and performed many kinds of self-care for their own disease. CONCLUSION: The information for JCP using the website has enormous effects on people's lives. We should give more meaningful information and patients should take more as well.