The use of internet for health information by hospitalised patients in Switzerland and Qatar: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Background: The internet has become a critical resource for accessing health information worldwide. Online health information seeking (OHIS) is increasingly common among hospitalised patients, particularly those with chronic conditions. While prior studies have explored OHIS in individual countries, limited evidence exists comparing behaviours across different sociocultural and healthcare contexts. This study compared patterns of internet use for health information among hospitalised patients in Switzerland and Qatar. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2016 in two tertiary hospitals in Switzerland, and Qatar. Eligible patients (18-80 years) admitted to internal medicine, visceral surgery, or orthopaedics wards completed a 33-item structured questionnaire, available in French and Arabic, covering sociodemographic characteristics, internet access, health information-seeking behaviour, and use during hospitalisation. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to identify predictors of OHIS. Results: A total of 820 patients participated (617 Swiss, 203 Qatari). Swiss patients were older (mean age 57 ± 15) than Qataris (44 ± 16, p ≤ 0.001). Qatari patients were more likely to search for health information online compared with Swiss patients (85% vs 65%, p ≤ 0.001). They searched more frequently for information on diseases (74% vs 56%), treatments (59% vs 41%), healthcare professionals (40% vs 20%), and hospitals (41% vs 18%). Online health information had greater reported impact among Qataris, prompting them to ask further questions to doctors (75% vs 50%, p ≤ 0.001) and influencing decisions to consult physicians (33% vs 22%, p ≤ 0.05). Both cohorts expressed interest in reliable, tailored online resources, with Qataris showing stronger preference for interactive and video-based platforms. Conclusion: This study highlights significant cross-country differences in OHIS behaviour among hospitalised patients, shaped by sociodemographic, cultural, and healthcare system contexts. Findings underscore the need for culturally relevant, trustworthy, and patient-centred digital health resources to enhance patient empowerment, improve clinician-patient communication, and reduce risks of misinformation.