195703
Internet access and internet health information-seeking behaviors as a function of trust in health information from the internet and from health care providers
Darren Mays, MPH
,
National Center for Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
James B. Weaver, PhD, MPH
,
National Center for Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Stephanie Sargent Weaver, PhD MPH CHES
,
National Center for Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Dogan Eroglu, PhD
,
National Center for Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Jay M. Bernhardt, PhD, MPH
,
Department of Health Education and Behavior, University of Florida, Gainsville, FL
Objectives. Research suggests that differential access to digital technologies, often called the “digital-divide,” inadequately explains inequalities in internet health-information seeking behavior (iHISB). Within the knowledge-gap framework, social-psychological determinants impacting iHISB appear increasingly important. Our research explored whether trust in health information from the internet and health care providers was related to three levels of internet use (not accessing the internet, accessing internet without iHISB, and engaging in iHISB). Methods. Assessments of iHISB (internet as the primary source for health information), trust in health information from the internet and health-care providers, and demographics were drawn from the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). Logistic regression models, adjusting for demographics and the complex survey design, were computed. Results. Trust in internet (OR 2.03, CI 1.82-2.27) and providers (OR 1.26, CI 1.04-1.54) health information were associated with a significant increase in the odds of accessing the internet. Trust in internet health information was associated with an increase in the odds of accessing the internet without iHISB (OR 1.56, CI 1.36-1.79), and engaging in iHISB (OR 2.07, CI 1.77-2.42). Conclusions. Research suggests that social-psychological determinants impacting motives to seek information may be underlying iHISB, beyond access to technology. Our findings are consistent with this research, suggesting that trust in online health information may be one factor motivating iHISB. Additional research is needed to examine trust in information sources as a gateway factor for iHISB in the context of other motives, such as the presence of diseases and health conditions.
Learning Objectives: 1. To discuss the ideas of the “digital divide” and the knowledge-gap hypothesis, and how these ideas are related to internet health information-seeking behaviors.
2. To describe how trust in health information from the internet and from health care providers may be seen as motives for internet health information-seeking behaviors.
3. To explain how trust in health information on the internet is related to accessing the internet, accessing the internet but not using internet health information, and using internet health information.
Keywords: Internet, Communication Technology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a PhD candidate in behavioral sciences and health education with research focusing on health communication & technology use.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
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