Men's health: Health information seeking and its impact on health care visits

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Health information seeking outside of the medical encounter has increased significantly. Patients seek health information to learn more about health conditions, assess symptoms, and to improve communication with health care providers. Men's health is a relatively new area of study. Consequently, the literature is sparse related to studies examining health information seeking and health care utilization among men. This study aimed to identify the relationship between health information seeking and health care utilization. STUDY DESIGN: This study used data from the 2007 Health Tracking Household Survey. We examined the impact of health information seeking on health care visits, emergency room visits, and confidence in preventing health problems. Logistic regression models were used. POPULATION STUDIED: The analytical sample included 8179 men >=18 years of age. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Men who sought health information were more likely to visit a physician and other health care providers (OR 1.53 and OR 1.36) compared to those who did not seek health information. Those who sought health information were also more likely to visit an emergency room (OR 1.23) and agree they could prevent problems with their health (OR 1.16). CONCLUSIONS: Men who sought health information were more likely to use health care in the last 12 months and believe they could prevent problems with their health compared to those who did not seek health information. IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY OR PRACTICE: Providers and health care facilities should continue to inform men concerning how to use health information gathered outside of the medical encounter appropriately.