Online Health Information Seeking: A Survey of Patient Attitudes
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Abstract
Background
The Internet is now widely used to search for health information. This phenomenon is increasing among user contributed social networks (Fox 2011). However, much health information is still accessed through organisation provided channels e.g. NHS online services.
There is now a growing body of literature investigating online health information seeking behaviour. However, previous research investigating attitudes towards health information seeking on the internet have largely focussed on internet users in the general population (Fox and Rainie 2000).
Objective
The aim of this study was to identify the attitudes of patients towards online health information. The effect of individual characteristics on these attitudes was also identified. Sampling this population provides a current and appropriate indication of what is happening now in relation to online health information seeking behaviour and its impact on patients.
Methods
Attitudinal data from a survey (n=571), which was designed to investigate how online health seeking behaviour influences offline behaviour, can provide an insight into online health seeking behaviour among patients. Through analysis of this data, the general characteristics of the digital divide (age, gender, socio-economic status) can be identified as having an effect on the online health seeking behaviour of patients.
Patients were asked a short series of questions, based on the Pew Internet and American Life survey questions. These questions were designed to measure attitudes towards certain health activities which are carried out on the internet e.g. purchasing vitamins/medicines or checking security settings on a health portal. Data from this patient survey was analysed by collating the responses to a sequence of Likert scale categories.
Results
The findings show that patient trust is low in regard to websites and how their information might be used. This finding supports the idea that trust is a major barrier when considering online health information provision, as discussed by Sillence et al (2006 and 2007).
Conclusions
These findings provide valuable information regarding patient attitudes. This information would be very useful for policy makers to consider when designing health promotion strategies which target internet health seekers.
The Internet is now widely used to search for health information. This phenomenon is increasing among user contributed social networks (Fox 2011). However, much health information is still accessed through organisation provided channels e.g. NHS online services.
There is now a growing body of literature investigating online health information seeking behaviour. However, previous research investigating attitudes towards health information seeking on the internet have largely focussed on internet users in the general population (Fox and Rainie 2000).
Objective
The aim of this study was to identify the attitudes of patients towards online health information. The effect of individual characteristics on these attitudes was also identified. Sampling this population provides a current and appropriate indication of what is happening now in relation to online health information seeking behaviour and its impact on patients.
Methods
Attitudinal data from a survey (n=571), which was designed to investigate how online health seeking behaviour influences offline behaviour, can provide an insight into online health seeking behaviour among patients. Through analysis of this data, the general characteristics of the digital divide (age, gender, socio-economic status) can be identified as having an effect on the online health seeking behaviour of patients.
Patients were asked a short series of questions, based on the Pew Internet and American Life survey questions. These questions were designed to measure attitudes towards certain health activities which are carried out on the internet e.g. purchasing vitamins/medicines or checking security settings on a health portal. Data from this patient survey was analysed by collating the responses to a sequence of Likert scale categories.
Results
The findings show that patient trust is low in regard to websites and how their information might be used. This finding supports the idea that trust is a major barrier when considering online health information provision, as discussed by Sillence et al (2006 and 2007).
Conclusions
These findings provide valuable information regarding patient attitudes. This information would be very useful for policy makers to consider when designing health promotion strategies which target internet health seekers.
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