Predictors of Internet use for health information among male and female Internet users: Findings from the 2009 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey
Introduction
The Internet has provided an unprecedented level of instant access to a wide range of information and services. Searching for health information is one of the most popular online activity [1], [2], [3]. Nevertheless, as early as 2001, it has been pointed out the quality of information, disparities in access, low health literacy, and disorganization of the information were some of the challenges for Internet health information seekers [4]. Subsequent studies repeatedly showed that the general population does not possess sufficient information and strategic Internet skills [5]. It has been suggested that people who would need the Internet most as a source of health information, due to poor health or low socioeconomic status, are also those who least likely use it [6].
Previous studies have indicated that there were clear sex differences in Internet use [7], [8], preventive health behavior [9], health-related help seeking behavior [10], and health information seeking [11]. According to a Pew report in 2005, women, age below 65 years, college graduates, more online experience, and had broadband access were more likely to seek online health information [12]. The 2009 Annenberg National Health Communication Survey also indicated that women were more likely to be active health information seekers than men [13]. Another survey on 1001 respondents in South Korea showed a sex difference in seeking health information on the Internet [14]. Although a number studies have focused on accessing the predictors of Internet use for health information in women [15], [16], few have simultaneously compared the predictors in the same study. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and predictors of Internet use for health information in male and female adults in Taiwan.
Section snippets
Study design and data source
This study is a secondary analysis of the data from the 2009 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which was designed to yield a sample representative of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of Taiwan. Individuals in the NHIS were sampled using a multistage, stratified, systematic sampling design based on geographic location and level of urbanization. All selected individuals were interviewed by trained interviewers face-to-face using computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI).
Results
Of the 2741 adults aged 20–65 years who had ever used the Internet, 1766 (64.4%) of them had used it for health information or services. The mean age of the 2741 Internet users was 35.7 years (standard deviation = 10.2 years) and 50.5% were males. Table 1 shows the distribution of the independent variables among the male and female Internet users. The proportion of respondents who were overweight or obese was significantly higher in males (P < 0.001). Mean monthly personal income was also
Discussion
This secondary data analysis of a representative sample of the Taiwan population addressed a gap in knowledge on factors associated with Internet use for health information in men and women. Overall, 64% of Internet user had used it for health information or services. This figure is similar to that reported in a study on 500 patients with cancer where 63% of them use the Internet to search for cancer information [17]. Findings from a nationally representative population of United States adults
Authors’ contributions
MK, SCL conceived the study; MK conducted the data analysis, MK, SCL drafted and revised the paper, MCL critically reviewed the paper.
All authors of this study meet the requirements for authorship and have approved the final version of the paper.
Conflicts of interest
None of the authors report any conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgements
This study is based on data from the National Health Interview Survey provided by the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan. The interpretation and conclusions contained herein do not represent those of the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan.
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Malcolm Koo and Ming-Chi Lu contributed equally to this work.