Is health information seeking and use associated with race and ethnicity?

Background: Increasing numbers of adults are seeking health information (HI) from sources other than their doctors. The theory of uncertainty management suggests that patients reduce health care uncertainty by increasing patient understanding about the etiology of disease or treatment options, improving patient-doctor communication and enhancing knowledge of disease self-management through HI seeking. Additionally, research on self-managing one's health and health care suggests that patient empowerment can positively influence health behaviors and reduce health disparities. However, research shows racial and ethnic minority groups are less likely to seek HI than Whites. But, for those minorities who do seek HI, how do they utilize it? Objective: We examined racial and ethnic differences in HI seeking and use. Methods: Data are from the 2007 Health Tracking Household survey, a nationally-representative survey of civilian, non-institutionalized Americans. Our analytic sample size is 13,221 adults. Results: Using logistic regression we found African Americans vs. Whites were no different in seeking HI and using it when they talked with their doctors. Hispanics vs. Whites were significantly less likely to seek HI (OR=0.67, 95% CI: 0.56-0.81) and less likely to use it when they talked with their doctors (OR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.60-0.99). But, when African Americans and Hispanics did seek HI, they were significantly more likely to use HI to change their approach to maintaining their health (OR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.51-2.42 and OR=1.64, 95% CI: 1.25-2.13, respectively) and better understand how to treat illnesses than Whites (OR=1.79, 95% CI: 1.31-2.44 and OR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.32-2.71, respectively). Conclusions: Future research should seek interventions to improve how African Americans and Hispanics interface with providers and ensure that HI sought and used do not contradict treatment protocols.