Profiling characteristics of internet medical information users.

OBJECTIVE The Internet's potential to bolster health promotion and disease prevention efforts has attracted considerable attention. Existing research leaves two things unclear, however: the prevalence of online health and medical information seeking and the distinguishing characteristics of individuals who seek that information. DESIGN This study seeks to clarify and extend the knowledge base concerning health and medical information use online by profiling adults using Internet medical information (IMI). Secondary analysis of survey data from a large sample (n = 6,119) representative of the Atlanta, GA, area informed this investigation. MEASUREMENTS Five survey questions were used to assess IMI use and general computer and Internet use during the 30 days before the survey was administered. Five questions were also used to assess respondents' health care system use. Several demographic characteristics were measured. RESULTS Contrary to most prior research, this study found relatively low prevalence of IMI-seeking behavior. Specifically, IMI use was reported by 13.2% of all respondents (n = 6,119) and by 21.1% of respondents with Internet access (n = 3,829). Logistic regression models conducted among respondents accessing the Internet in the previous 30 days revealed that, when controlling for several sociodemographic characteristics, home computer ownership, online time per week, and health care system use are all positively linked with IMI-seeking behavior. CONCLUSIONS The data suggest it may be premature to embrace unilaterally the Internet as an effective asset for health promotion and disease prevention efforts that target the public.

[1]  F. Breedveld,et al.  Engagement and satisfaction with an Internet-based physical activity intervention in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. , 2007, Rheumatology.

[2]  R. Watson.  The new patient power. , 2001, Newsweek.

[3]  S. Pandey,et al.  Women's health and the internet: understanding emerging trends and implications. , 2003, Social science & medicine.

[4]  Charles Safran,et al.  Informatics as a Strategy for Reducing Health Disparities in Underserved Populations , 2004 .

[5]  Gary L. Kreps,et al.  Trust and sources of health information: the impact of the Internet and its implications for health care providers: findings from the first Health Information National Trends Survey. , 2005, Archives of internal medicine.

[6]  B. Tabachnick,et al.  Using Multivariate Statistics , 1983 .

[7]  Colleen Konicki DiIorio.  Measurement in Health Behavior: Methods for Research and Evaluation , 2005 .

[8]  D Seedhouse,et al.  Information technology in health promotion. , 2008, Health education research.

[9]  Vibeke Backer,et al.  Internet-based monitoring of asthma: a long-term, randomized clinical study of 300 asthmatic subjects. , 2005, The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology.

[10]  L. Baker,et al.  Internet use and stigmatized illness. , 2005, Social science & medicine.

[11]  Terisa Davis,et al.  Health Information National Trends Survey 2005 (HINTS 2005) , 2005 .

[12]  Jie Huang,et al.  Use of e-Health services between 1999 and 2002: a growing digital divide. , 2004, Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association : JAMIA.

[13]  M. Goldner,et al.  Using the Internet and Email for Health Purposes: The Impact of Health Status* , 2006 .

[14]  Ha T Tu,et al.  Striking jump in consumers seeking health care information. , 2008, Tracking report.

[15]  Susannah Fox,et al.  Internet Health Resources , 2003 .

[16]  David M Williams,et al.  A comparison of Internet and print-based physical activity interventions. , 2007, Archives of internal medicine.

[17]  L. Baker,et al.  Use of the Internet and e-mail for health care information: results from a national survey. , 2003, JAMA.

[18]  Emily Dibble,et al.  Internet Use Among Community College Students: Implications in Designing Healthcare Interventions , 2004, Journal of American college health : J of ACH.

[19]  Kermit C. Whaley,et al.  America's Digital Divide: 2000–2003 Trends , 2004, Journal of Medical Systems.

[20]  Stephen A. Rains.  Health at High Speed , 2008, Commun. Res..

[21]  D. Blumenthal.  Stimulating the adoption of health information technology. , 2009, The West Virginia medical journal.

[22]  L. Baker,et al.  Consumers' use of the Internet for health insurance. , 2004, The American journal of managed care.

[23]  V. Strecher,et al.  A web-based, tailored asthma management program for urban African-American high school students. , 2007, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

[24]  S. Blumberg,et al.  Telephone coverage and health survey estimates: evaluating the need for concern about wireless substitution. , 2006, American journal of public health.

[25]  James B. Weaver,et al.  Healthcare non-adherence decisions and internet health information , 2009, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[26]  B. Tabachnick,et al.  Using multivariate statistics, 5th ed. , 2007 .

[27]  D. Iorio,et al.  Measurement in health behavior:methods for research and education , 1974 .

[28]  Shirley A. Star,et al.  AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH , 1980 .

[29]  S. Cotten,et al.  THE ASSOCIATION AMONG GENDER, COMPUTER USE AND ONLINE HEALTH SEARCHING, AND MENTAL HEALTH , 2008 .

[30]  M. Goldner,et al.  HOW HEALTH STATUS IMPACTS THE TYPES OF INFORMATION CONSUMERS SEEK ONLINE , 2006 .

[31]  James G. Anderson.  Consumers of e-Health , 2004 .

[32]  J. Kronenfeld,et al.  Chronic illness and health-seeking information on the Internet , 2007, Health.

[33]  Todd H Wagner,et al.  Who searches the internet for health information? , 2006, Health services research.

[34]  A. Jadad,et al.  Analysis of cases of harm associated with use of health information on the internet. , 2002, JAMA.

[35]  David W. Hosmer,et al.  Applied Logistic Regression , 1991 .

[36]  D. Hosmer,et al.  Applied Logistic Regression , 1991 .

[37]  Ronald E. Rice,et al.  Influences, usage, and outcomes of Internet health information searching: Multivariate results from the Pew surveys , 2006, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[38]  J. Bernhardt,et al.  Health education and the digital divide: building bridges and filling chasms. , 2000, Health education research.

[39]  S. Lambert,et al.  Health Information—Seeking Behavior , 2007, Qualitative health research.

[40]  Stephen A. Rains,et al.  Perceptions of Traditional Information Sources and Use of the World Wide Web to Seek Health Information: Findings From the Health Information National Trends Survey , 2007, Journal of health communication.