MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: Role of Health Literacy in Health-Related Information-Seeking Behavior Online: Cross-sectional Study.

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2021

ISSN: 1438-8871

DOI: 10.2196/14088

PMID: 33502332

Abstract: BACKGROUND The internet has emerged as a main venue of health information delivery and health-related activities. However, few studies have examined how health literacy determines online health-related behavior. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the current level of health-related information-seeking using the internet and how health literacy, access to technology, and sociodemographic characteristics impact health-related information-seeking behavior. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study through a survey with Minnesotan adults (N=614) to examine their health literacy, access to technology, and health-related information-seeking internet use. We used multivariate regression analysis to assess the relationship between health-related information-seeking on the internet and health literacy and access to technology, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS Better health literacy (β=.35, SE 0.12) and greater access to technological devices (eg, mobile phone and computer or tablet PC; β=.06, SE 0.19) were both associated with more health-related information-seeking behavior on the internet after adjusting for all other sociodemographic characteristics. Possession of a graduate degree (β=.28, SE 0.07), female gender (β=.15, SE 0.05), poor health (β=.22, SE 0.06), participation in social groups (β=.13, SE 0.05), and having an annual health exam (β=.35, SE 0.12) were all associated with online health-related information-seeking. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that access to online health-related information is not uniformly distributed throughout the population, which may exacerbate disparities in health and health care. Research, policy, and practice attention are needed to address the disparities in access to health information as well as to ensure the quality of the information and improve health literacy.

Url: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33502332

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Lee, Hee Yun; Jin, Seok Won; Henning-Smith, Carrie; Lee, Jongwook; Lee, Jaegoo

Periodical (Full): Journal of medical Internet research

Issue: 1

Volume: 23

Pages: e14088

Countries:

IPUMS NHGIS NAPP IHIS ATUS Terrapop