• Paulina Sáez Gallardo, Teresita Risopatrón Riesco, and Rodrigo Guerrero T.
• Unidad de Neurorrehabilitación Intrahospitalaria, Hospital Santiago Oriente Dr. Luis Tisné Brousse, Santiago, Chile.
• Rev Med Chil. 2020 Jun 1; 148 (6): 787-791.

BackgroundThe digital revolution is creating opportunities and challenges in the field of medicine and the Digital Hospital could be a benefit for patients, if they are able to use the Internet.AimIdentify the barriers that limit Internet use among stroke patients treated in a public hospital in Santiago.Material And MethodsSociodemographic, clinical and functional variables that could influence the use of the Internet were collected in 107 patients with stroke.ResultsSeventy five percent of patients had access to the Internet, but only 29% knew how to use it before their hospitalization. Seventy five percent were older adults, 74% had a low level of education, 78% had an income below the minimum Chilean salary and 56% were discharged with a severe disability (modified Rankin Scale 4 or 5). There was a significant relationship between Internet use and the level of education, income and age.ConclusionsIncome levels, age, schooling and stroke related disability limit Internet use in this population.

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