scholarly journals Influencing Factors of Online Health Information Seeking in Selected European Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-55
Author(s):  
Elena Link ◽  
Eva Baumann ◽  
Annemiek Linn ◽  
Andreas Fahr ◽  
Peter Schulz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
European Countries ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking

Patients’ participation in healthcare requires comprehensive health knowledge and can benefit from online health information seeking behaviours (O-HISB). The internet is a particularly vital source for seeking health-related information in many regions of the world. Therefore, we take a European cross-country comparative perspective on O-HISB. We aim to compare the importance of personal, health(care)-related, and cognitive determinants of using the internet for health-related purposes in four European countries. We conducted online surveys among the German, Swiss, Dutch, and Austrian public and described patterns of health information seeking online. The internet seemed to be a widely used source of health information in the four selected European countries. The explanation patterns of personal, health(care)-related, and cognitive factors differ by country and between selecting the internet as a source of health information and the frequency of online use. Using online media appeared to be more common for women and for current health problems. Respondents’ willingness and competencies are essential for online health information seeking. To prevent the increase of social and health-related disparities, there is an urgent need to support underprivileged population groups and increase motivations and eHealth literacy to use the internet for health-related purposes.

scholarly journals The Correlation of Online Health Information–Seeking Experience With Health-Related Quality of Life: Cross-Sectional Study Among Non–English-Speaking Female Students in a Religious Community

10.2196/23854 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. e23854
Author(s):  
Zahra Kavosi ◽  
Sara Vahedian ◽  
Razieh Montazeralfaraj ◽  
Arefeh Dehghani Tafti ◽  
Mohammad Amin Bahrami
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking

Background Given the increasing availability of the internet, it has become a common source of health information. However, the effect of this increased access on health needs to be further studied. Objective This study aimed to investigate the correlation between online health information–seeking behavior and general health dimensions in a sample of high school students in Iran. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. A total of 295 female students participated in the study. The data were collected using two validated questionnaires: the e-Health Impact Questionnaire and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp). Results The participants moderately used online information in their health-related decisions, and they thought that the internet helped people in health-related decision making. They also thought that the internet could be used to share health experiences with others. Participants had moderate confidence in online health information and stated that the information provided by health websites was moderately understandable and reliable and moderately encouraged and motivated them to play an active role in their health promotion. Nevertheless, the results showed that online health information–seeking experience had no significant correlation with health-related quality of life. Conclusions This study provides insights into the effect of using internet information on the health of adolescents. It has important implications for researchers and policy makers to build appropriate policies to maximize the benefit of internet access for health.

scholarly journals The Correlation of Online Health Information–Seeking Experience With Health-Related Quality of Life: Cross-Sectional Study Among Non–English-Speaking Female Students in a Religious Community (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Kavosi ◽  
Sara Vahedian ◽  
Razieh Montazeralfaraj ◽  
Arefeh Dehghani Tafti ◽  
Mohammad Amin Bahrami
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking

BACKGROUND Given the increasing availability of the internet, it has become a common source of health information. However, the effect of this increased access on health needs to be further studied. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the correlation between online health information–seeking behavior and general health dimensions in a sample of high school students in Iran. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. A total of 295 female students participated in the study. The data were collected using two validated questionnaires: the e-Health Impact Questionnaire and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp). RESULTS The participants moderately used online information in their health-related decisions, and they thought that the internet helped people in health-related decision making. They also thought that the internet could be used to share health experiences with others. Participants had moderate confidence in online health information and stated that the information provided by health websites was moderately understandable and reliable and moderately encouraged and motivated them to play an active role in their health promotion. Nevertheless, the results showed that online health information–seeking experience had no significant correlation with health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS This study provides insights into the effect of using internet information on the health of adolescents. It has important implications for researchers and policy makers to build appropriate policies to maximize the benefit of internet access for health.

scholarly journals Factors influencing online health information seeking behavior among patients in Kwahu West Municipal, Nkawkaw, Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richmond Dery Nangsangna ◽  
Frances Da-Costa Vroom
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking

Over the years, there has been a lot of transformation in the way health care is delivered and how individuals access health. Rapid growth in technology has been attributed to the advancement. The internet has played a key role in the delivery of health care and serves currently as a huge source of health information to individuals regardless of their location, language or time.This cross sectional study was conducted in the Kwahu West Municipal to determine factors influencing online health information seeking behaviors among patients. Three hospitals in the municipality were purposively selected for the study.  Outpatients attending these facilities were systematically selected. Data was collected using structured interviewer administered questionnaire.The study findings revealed that internet usage rate among patients was 85.8%. However, only 35.7% of patients ever used the internet to access health information. Sex, education and average monthly income were significant factors associated with online health information seeking. The study also showed that, computer and internet experience factors increased the probability of using internet for health information. After adjusting for confounding factors, being employed, earning higher income and owning computer were positive predictors of online health information seeking.It is important to explore other means of reducing the disparity in information access by improving skill and health literacy among the low social class who cannot afford internet ready devices. Health care providers should recognize that patients are using the internet for health information and should be prepared to assist and promote internet user skills among their patients.

scholarly journals Online Health Information Seeking by Parents for Their Children: Systematic Review and Agenda for Further Research

10.2196/19985 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. e19985
Author(s):  
Christian Kubb ◽  
Heather M Foran
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking ◽  
The Web

Background Parents commonly use the internet to search for information about their child’s health-related symptoms and guide parental health-related decisions. Despite the impact of parental online health seeking on offline health behaviors, this area of research remains understudied. Previous literature has not adequately distinguished searched behaviors when searching for oneself or one`s child. Objective The purpose of this review is to examine prevalences and associated variables of parent-child online health information seeking; investigate parents’ health-related online behavior regarding how they find, use, and evaluate information; and identify barriers and concerns that they experience during the search. Based on this analysis, we develop a conceptual model of potentially important variables of proxy online health information seeking, with a focus on building an agenda for further research. Methods We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature review of the PsycINFO, JMIR, and PubMed electronic databases. Studies between January 1994 and June 2018 were considered. The conceptual model was developed using an inductive mixed methods approach based on the investigated variables in the study sample. Results A total of 33 studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings suggest that parents worldwide are heavy online users of health-related information for their children across highly diverse circumstances. A total of 6 studies found high parental health anxiety, with prevalences ranging from 14% to 52%. Although parents reported wishing for more guidance from their pediatrician on how to find reliable information, they rarely discussed retrieved information from the web. The conceptual model of proxy online health information seeking includes 49 variables. Conclusions This systematic review identifies important gaps regarding the influence of health-related information on parents’ health behavior and outcomes. Follow-up studies are required to offer parents guidance on how to use the web for health purposes in an effective way, as well as solutions to the multifaceted problems during or after online health information seeking for their child. The conceptual model with the number of studies in each model category listed highlights how previous studies have hardly considered relational variables between the parent and child. An agenda for future research is presented.

Effect of Online Health Information Seeking on Anxiety in Hospitalized Pregnant Women: Cohort Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabiana Coglianese ◽  
Giulia Beltrame Vriz ◽  
Nicola Soriani ◽  
Gianluca Niccolò Piras ◽  
Rosanna Irene Comoretto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Anxiety Reduction ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
Search For Information

BACKGROUND There are approximately 1,000,000 pregnant women at high risk for obstetric complications per year, more than half of whom require hospitalization. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the relation between online health information seeking and anxiety levels in a sample of hospitalized woman with pregnancy-related complications. METHODS A sample of 105 pregnant women hospitalized in northern Italy, all with an obstetric complication diagnosis, completed different questionnaires: Use of Internet Health-information (UIH) questionnaire about use of the internet, EuroQOL 5 dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire on quality of life, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire measuring general anxiety levels, and a questionnaire about critical events occurring during hospitalization. RESULTS Overall, 98/105 (93.3%) of the women used the internet at home to obtain nonspecific information about health in general and 95/105 (90.5%) of the women used the internet to specifically search for information related to their obstetric disease. Online health information-seeking behavior substantially decreased the self-reported anxiety levels (<i>P</i>=.008). CONCLUSIONS Web browsing for health information was associated with anxiety reduction, suggesting that the internet can be a useful instrument in supporting professional intervention to control and possibly reduce discomfort and anxiety for women during complicated pregnancies.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Continued Use of Online Health Information Seeking Behaviour Among Parents in Developing Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1371-1376
Author(s):  
Mira Kartiwi Et.al
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking

The advancement of technology has changed how parents engage in health information seeking activities through the Internet. Such trends not only shown in developed countries but also most of developing economies as the growth of population access to Internet have been steadily increased in the past ten years. Despite the growing penetration rate, little is known on the extent the Internet is being used by parents to obtain health-related information to improve the wellbeing of their children in developing countries. Five hundred and nineteen responses were collected from parents in selected areas of Klang Valley region in Malaysia. The collected data were analysed by partial least square method of structural equation modelling. The results indicated a positive relationship between information satisfaction and online health information seeking continued use. The moderating role of household income and education are confirmed. The research implications of our results would help medical practitioners and policymaker to design the appropriate supports and awareness programs for parents on the risk and benefits of using online health information.

scholarly journals Online Health Information–Seeking Among Older Women With Chronic Illness: Analysis of the Women’s Health Initiative

10.2196/15906 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. e15906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina S Sedrak ◽  
Enrique Soto-Perez-De-Celis ◽  
Rebecca A Nelson ◽  
Jennifer Liu ◽  
Molly E Waring ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Women ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Health Initiative ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking

Background Understanding how older patients with chronic illnesses use the internet to obtain health information is relevant for the design of digital interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of adults aged 65 years and older; this cohort represents the sickest, most expensive, and fastest-growing segment of the US population. Objective The objective of our study was to describe online health information–seeking behavior among older patients with chronic illnesses and to compare the characteristics of patients who report using the internet to obtain health information with those who do not. Methods The study population included 72,806 women aged 65 years and older enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a national cohort study, who completed a 2014 supplemental questionnaire assessing everyday technology use and internet use for researching health conditions. Comparisons were made between participants with and without a history of chronic illness and between users and nonusers of online sources for health information. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. Results Of the total, 59% (42,887/72,806) of older women used the internet for health information. Compared with women who did not use the internet to obtain health information, those who used the internet were younger (median age: 76 vs 81 years), more likely to be non-Hispanic white (90% [38,481/42,887] vs 87% [26,017/29,919]), earned a higher income (over $US 50,000: 55% [23,410/42,887] vs 33% [9991/29,919]), achieved a higher educational level (more than high school: 87% [37,493/42,887] vs 75% [22,377/29,919]), and were more likely to live with a partner (52% [22,457/42,887] vs 36% [10,759/29,919]) (all P<.001). Women with Alzheimer disease were least likely to report online health information–seeking compared to those without the disease (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.38-0.43). In contrast, women with a recent diagnosis of cancer, within the previous 2 years (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.11-1.36) or 2-5 years ago (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.00-1.19), were most likely to use the internet for health information. Conclusions Nearly 6 in 10 older women participating in the WHI reported using the internet to obtain health information. Patients recently diagnosed with cancer are more likely to be looking for health information online, even after adjustment for age, suggesting that these patients may have a greater need for digital health resources.

scholarly journals Online health information seeking by parents for their children. A systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Kubb ◽  
H Foran
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking ◽  
Search Behaviors

Abstract Background Parents commonly use the internet to search for information about their child’s health-related symptoms and guide parental health-related decisions. Despite the importance of parental search behaviors, this area of research remains understudied and no comprehensive review of this research area has been conducted. Our aim is to summarize the existing findings on searched topics and search experience of online health information seeking among parents for their children with focus on building an agenda for further research and recommendations for public health. Methods We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature review of parental online health information seeking studies in the databases of PsycInfo, JMIR and PubMED. Studies from 1994 to June 2018 were considered. Results A total of 33 studies met the eligibility criteria, including 8665 parents. Findings suggest that parents worldwide are heavy online users of health-related information for their children across highly diverse circumstances. Parents report wishing for more guidance especially from their pediatrician on how to find online health information; however, studies found parents rarely report discussing online health information with their healthcare providers. Only five studies investigated health anxiety related to online health information and prevalences ranged from 14% and 52%, three examined theoretical models, and only three examined consequences of search behaviors more in-depth. Conclusions Results of this systematic review identify important gaps in theoretical models, risk factors to predict search behaviors, and health outcomes associated with parental search behaviors. An agenda for future research will be presented. Key messages Parents are heavy users of the health-related web, but more research is needed to support them in effective use. Tailored digital public health approaches could empower parents to make better use of online resources and improve health-related decision making.

scholarly journals Social Media in Times of Crisis: Online Health Information Seeking using “#COVID-19 Patient Seeking Help” on Weibo in Wuhan, China (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoman Zhao ◽  
Ju Fan ◽  
Iccha Basnyat ◽  
Baijing Hu
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Health Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking

BACKGROUND First detected in Wuhan, China in December 2019, the novel coronavirus (i.e., “COVID-19”) pandemic stretched the medical system in Wuhan and posed an immense challenge to the state’s risk communication efforts. Timely access to quality healthcare information during outbreaks of infectious diseases can be effective to curtail the spread of disease and feelings of anxiety. While these existing studies have greatly extended our knowledge about online health information seeking behavior, processes and motivations, rarely have the findings been applied to an outbreak. Moreover, there is relatively little recent research on how people in China are using the Internet for seeking health information in a time of a pandemic. OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to explore how people in China are using the Internet for seeking health information in a time of a pandemic. Drawing on previous research of online health information seeking, this study asks the following research questions: How was the “#COVID-19 Patient Seeking Help” hashtag being used by patients in Wuhan seeking health information on Weibo at the peak of the outbreak?; What kinds of health information were patients in Wuhan seeking on Weibo at the peak of the outbreak? METHODS Using entity identification and textual analysis on 10908 posts on Weibo, we identified 1496 Coronavirus patients using “#COVID-19 Patient Seeking Help” and explored their online health information seeking behavior. RESULTS The curve of the hashtag posting provided a dynamic picture of public attention to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many patients faced difficulties accessing offline health care services. In general, our findings confirmed that the Internet is used by the Chinese public as an importance source of health information. The lockdown policy was found to cut off the patients’ social support network, preventing them from seeking help from family members. The ability to seek information and help online, especially for those with young children or elderly members was especially essential during the pandemic. A high proportion of female users were seeking health information and help for their parents or for the elder at home. The most searched information included accessing medical treatment; managing self-quarantine; and offline to online support. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the findings contribute to our understanding of health information seeking behaviors during an outbreak and highlight the importance of paying attention to the information need of vulnerable groups and the role social media may play.

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