OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to identify the usage patterns and perception of Internet-based medical information services and its effect on hospital selection.

METHODS: An Internet survey was conducted on a web-site between 10 and 25 June, 2004. A total of 600 surveys were administered, of which 409 were adequately completed and included in the study. The collected data were analyzed on SPSS 11.0. Frequency and percentile were calculated.

RESULTS: Among the survey respondents, almost 90% reported having access to Internet-based medical information services. The majority(66.3%) of respondents reported the reasons for accessing the Internet-based medical information services were treatment modalities of disease, promoting health, and acquiring general knowledge in health. Seventy-eight respondents reported that they visited the hospital which provided the Internet-based medical information services they had accessed.

CONCLUSION: This study implies that Internet-based medical information services can be used in health service marketing.