Predictors of Internet use for health information among male and female Internet users: Findings from the 2009 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey

doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2016.07.011

International Journal of Medical Informatics

Volume 94, October 2016, Pages 155-163

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2016.07.011 Get rights and content

Highlights

•
Internet use for health information was investigated using the data from the 2009 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey.
•
Similar but not identical factors were associated with Internet use for health information between male and female users.
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Different strategies may be needed for men and women to increase their engagement in health-related Internet use.

Abstract

Background

The Internet is an increasingly important source of health information for the general population. Both preventive health behavior and Internet use are known to be different between men and women. However, few studies have compared predictors of Internet use for health information between the sexes.

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence and predictors of Internet use for health information among male and female adult Internet users using data from a population-based survey in Taiwan.

Methods

Respondents between the ages of 20–65 years were identified from the dataset of the 2009 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey. The outcome variable of the study, the utilization of the Internet for health information, was ascertained by asking whether the respondent had ever used the Internet to search for health information or obtain health services. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for men and women to evaluate factors associated with the use of Internet for health information.

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. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that a higher educational level (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.60, P < 0.001), living alone (AOR = 1.77, P = 0.019), had exercised in the past two weeks (AOR = 2.41, P < 0.001), residing in city or urban district (AOR = 1.28, P = 0.049), with a perceived health status of extremely good, very good, or good (AOR = 1.34, P = 0.022), and had used Western medicine services in the past month (AOR = 1.51, P = 0.005) were significantly associated with health information use in male Internet users. On the other hand, age between 20–44.9 years (AOR = 1.87, P < 0.001), a higher educational level (AOR = 3.57, P < 0.001), being married (AOR = 1.68, P = 0.001), had exercised in the past two weeks (AOR = 1.56, P < 0.001), and had a mean monthly personal income of NT$ 20,000 and above were significant factors in female Internet users.

Conclusions

This secondary data analysis of a representative sample of Taiwan population revealed that a similar but not identical set of independent factors was associated with the use of Internet for health information between male and female Internet users.

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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¹: Malcolm Koo and Ming-Chi Lu contributed equally to this work.

View full text

Predictors of Internet use for health information among male and female Internet users: Findings from the 2009 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey

Highlights

Abstract

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Introduction

Section snippets

Study design and data source

Results

Discussion

Authors’ contributions

Conflicts of interest

Acknowledgements

Am. J. Prev. Med.

Soc. Sci. Med.

Int. J. Med. Inform.

Int. J. Med. Inform.

Int. J. Med. Inform.

Int. J. Med. Inform.

Aust. N. Z. J. Public Health

Patient Educ. Couns.

Int. J. Surg.

Trust and sources of health information: the impact of the Internet and its implications for health care providers: findings from the first Health Information National Trends Survey

Arch. Intern. Med.

Access to care and use of the Internet to search for health information: results from the US National Health Interview Survey

J. Med. Internet Res.

eHealth trends in Europe 2005–2007: a population-based survey

J. Med. Internet Res.

Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of the art

Health Educ. Res.

Internet skills performance tests: are people ready for eHealth?

J. Med. Internet Res.

Health information seeking on the Internet: a double divide? Results from a representative survey in the Paris metropolitan area, France, 2005–2006

BMC Public Health

Using the internet for health-related activities: findings from a national probability sample

J. Med. Internet Res.

Health-related information on the Web: results from the HealthStyles Survey, 2002–2003

Prev. Chronic Dis.

Men and health help-seeking behaviour: literature review

J. Adv. Nurs.

Health Information Online 2005 Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project

Identifying social characteristics of health-related information seeker: a gender-specific approach for cancer survivors

Asian Pac. J. Cancer Prev.

A survey of Internet utilization among patients with cancer

Support. Care Cancer

The Social Life of Health Information, 2011. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project

Use of the internet as a health information resource among French young adults: results from a nationally representative survey

J. Med. Internet Res.

The characteristics and motivations of online health information seekers: cross-sectional survey and qualitative interview study

J. Med. Internet Res.

Subdividing the digital divide: differences in internet access and use among rural residents with medical limitations

J. Med. Internet Res.

Internet skill-related problems in accessing online health information

Int. J. Med. Inform.

The Internet as a health information source: findings from the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey and implications for health communication

J. Health Commun.

Health and the information nonseeker: a profile

Health Commun.

Health information on the Internet: accessibility, quality, and readability in English and Spanish

JAMA

Internet usage by low-literacy adults seeking health information: an observational analysis

J. Med. Internet Res.

Language preferences on websites and in Google searches for human health and food information

J. Med. Internet Res.

Cross-cultural quality comparison of online health information for elderly care on Yahoo! answers

Proc. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci. Tech.

eHealth Literacy Essential skills for consumer health in a networked world

J. Med. Internet Res.

The creation of a healthy eating motivation score and its association with food choice and physical activity in a cross sectional sample of Irish adults

Int. J. Behav. Nutr Phys. Act.