Internet Users's Experiences of Seeking Information on Health Administrations Websites
|
If you are the presenter of this abstract (or if you cite this abstract in a talk or on a poster), please show the QR code in your slide or poster (QR code contains this URL). |
Abstract
Background: The Internet is now an essential element of health services, particularly in the relationships between health administrations (ministries, health agencies, public health insurances) and the public. While in the past 10 years, studies from the medical field and the social sciences, have questioned the use of the internet and its impacts on user's everyday health and illness management, few studies have explored the use of health administrations websites and their impact on the public-health institutions relationships. .
Objective : The objective of the study was to explore the uses of French institutional websites by the general public. Focus was put on the use of these websites in regards to the everday health experience of the internet user and the significance of consulting public health administrations websites within the health information seeking trajectory of the internet user.
Methods: To explore the uses of health administrations websites, an online survey was conducted. Six French institutional websites (4 health agencies and 2 public health insurers) participated in the survey. Two French general public websites also participated in the survey in a comparative perspective of users' profiles.
Results: The survey gathered 1963 respondents and the analysis was carried on 1637 valid questionnaires. Respondents were predominantly female (79 %); more than a third of respondents were aged 35-54 years (37%), 18-34 years and 55 years were respectively 31% and 32%; 51% of respondents were at or below the baccalaureate level; 60% of respondents were employed. Users of institutional websites were non frequent internet users: 48 % used the Internet at least once a week vs. 56% among the users of general public websites. Regarding the reasons for using the health websites, the analysis shows no significant difference between users of the two types of websites: among the concerns for consulting websites were a personal health problem (61%), a general health issue (55%), diagnosed illness (49%) or ill family member (46 %). Survey participants show knowledge of health administrations but not necessarily of their websites that are rarely consulted unlike general public websites which are known by the majority of survey participants and are often consulted.
Conclusion: This study shows different uses of institutional websites and general public websites. Institutional websites are used because they are trusted sources, closely related to the knowledge of the adminisration. General public websites are part of the internet landscape, leading to less or non-focused health information seeking pratices. Health information, regardless the type of website, completes a medical, scientific or general understanding of health.
Objective : The objective of the study was to explore the uses of French institutional websites by the general public. Focus was put on the use of these websites in regards to the everday health experience of the internet user and the significance of consulting public health administrations websites within the health information seeking trajectory of the internet user.
Methods: To explore the uses of health administrations websites, an online survey was conducted. Six French institutional websites (4 health agencies and 2 public health insurers) participated in the survey. Two French general public websites also participated in the survey in a comparative perspective of users' profiles.
Results: The survey gathered 1963 respondents and the analysis was carried on 1637 valid questionnaires. Respondents were predominantly female (79 %); more than a third of respondents were aged 35-54 years (37%), 18-34 years and 55 years were respectively 31% and 32%; 51% of respondents were at or below the baccalaureate level; 60% of respondents were employed. Users of institutional websites were non frequent internet users: 48 % used the Internet at least once a week vs. 56% among the users of general public websites. Regarding the reasons for using the health websites, the analysis shows no significant difference between users of the two types of websites: among the concerns for consulting websites were a personal health problem (61%), a general health issue (55%), diagnosed illness (49%) or ill family member (46 %). Survey participants show knowledge of health administrations but not necessarily of their websites that are rarely consulted unlike general public websites which are known by the majority of survey participants and are often consulted.
Conclusion: This study shows different uses of institutional websites and general public websites. Institutional websites are used because they are trusted sources, closely related to the knowledge of the adminisration. General public websites are part of the internet landscape, leading to less or non-focused health information seeking pratices. Health information, regardless the type of website, completes a medical, scientific or general understanding of health.
Medicine 2.0® is happy to support and promote other conferences and workshops in this area. Contact us to produce, disseminate and promote your conference or workshop under this label and in this event series. In addition, we are always looking for hosts of future World Congresses. Medicine 2.0® is a registered trademark of JMIR Publications Inc., the leading academic ehealth publisher.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.