Table 2 Factors associated with patients using the internet to gather information about their upcoming surgery in general. Patients having used the internet to do so (any internet) vs. patients not having done so (no internet). Data are percentage (number) and 95% confidence interval for univariate analysis (crude OR) and multivariate regression analysis (adjusted OR)

total n = 815

41% (334)

59% (481)

Age (years)

18–44

49.4% (177)

50.6% (181)

reference

reference

45–60

41.2% (103)

58.8% (147)

0.72 (0.52–0.99)

0.98 (0.67–1.41)

61–80

26.9% (54)

73.1% (147)

0.37 (0.26–0.55)

0.75 (0.47–1.18)

> 80

0% (0)

100% (6)

n/a

n/a

Gender

male

40.4% (178)

59.6% (263)

reference

reference

female

41.7% (156)

58.3% (218)

1.06 (0.80–1.40)

1.24 (0.91–1.69)

ASA physical status

1

45.1% (178)

54.9% (217)

reference

reference

2

37.9% (150)

62.1% (246)

0.74 (0.56–0.99)

1.01 (0.72–1.42)

3

25.0% (6)

75.0% (18)

0.4 (0.16–1.05)

0.69 (0.22–2.18)

Level of education

apprenticeship etc.

37.4% (228)

62.6% (382)

reference

reference

higher education ^a

51.7% (106)

48.3% (99)

1.78 (1.30–2.47)

1.34 (0.95–1.89)

Previous anaesthetic

no

56.8% (79)

43.2% (60)

reference

reference

yes

37.7% (255)

62.3% (421)

0.46 (0.32–0.67)

0.56 (0.38–0.84)

Average internet usage per week (h)

0

7.0% (8)

93.0% (107)

reference

reference

0 to 5

38.0% (114)

62.0% (186)

8.20 (3.85–17.45)

7.13 (3.28–15.52)

5 to 10

47.9% (103)

52.1% (112)

12.3 (5.71–26.48)

10.24 (4.61–22.76)

10 to 15

59.0% (49)

40.1% (34)

19.27 (8.31–44.70)

15.59 (6.41–37.9)

more than 15

58.8% (60)

41.2% (42)

19.11 (8.42–43.36)

14.34 (5.96–34.50)

Postoperatively planned as outpatient

no

41.7% (110)

58.3% (154)

reference

reference

yes

40.1% (224)

59.4% (327)

0.96 (0.71–1.29)

0.82 (0.58–1.16)

Type of surgery

minor

61.0% (304)

39.1% (195)

reference

reference

moderate

55.9% (171)

44.1% (135)

1.23 (0.92–1.64)

1.70 (1.20–2.43)

major

60.0% (6)

40.0% (4)

1.04 (0.29–3.73)

2.75 (0.61–12.35)