BackgroundOnline health information-seeking behavior (OHISB) is currently a widespread and common behavior that has been described as an important prerequisite of empowerment and health literacy. Although demographic factors such as socioeconomic status (SES), age, and gender have been identified as important determinants of OHISB, research is limited regarding the gender-specific motivational determinants of OHISB and differences between women and men in the use of online resources for health information purposes.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify gender-specific determinants and patterns of OHISB by analyzing data from a representative German sample of adults (N=1728) with special attention to access and frequency of use as well as topics and sources of OHISB.MethodsWe employed a 2-step analysis, that is, after exploring differences between users and nonusers of online health information using logistic regression models, we highlighted gender-specific determinants of the frequency of OHISB by applying zero-truncated negative binomial models.ResultsAge (odds ratio, OR for females=0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.99) and degree of satisfaction with one’s general practitioner (GP) (OR for males=0.73, 95% CI 0.57-0.92) were gender-specific determinants of access to OHISB. Regarding the frequency of OHISB, daily Internet use (incidence rate ratio, IRR=1.67, 95% CI 1.19-2.33) and a strong interest in health topics (IRR=1.45, 95% CI 1.19-1.77) were revealed to be more important predictors than SES (IRR for high SES=1.25, 95% CI 0.91-1.73).ConclusionsUsers indicate that the Internet seems to be capable of providing a valuable source of informational support and patient empowerment. Increasing the potential value of the Internet as a source for health literacy and patient empowerment requires need-oriented and gender-specific health communication efforts, media, and information strategies.

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Social norms have been found to be an important factor in individuals' health and risk behaviors. Past research has typically addressed which social norms individuals perceive in their social environments (e.g., in their peer group). The present article explores normative social influences beyond such perceptions by applying a multilevel approach and differentiating between perceived norms at the individual level and collective norms at the group level. Data on norms and three road traffic risk behaviors (speeding, driving after drinking, and texting while driving) were obtained from a representative survey among young German car drivers (N = 311 anchor respondents) and their peer groups (overall N = 1,244). Multilevel modeling (MLM) revealed that beyond individual normative perceptions of peers' behavior and approval, actual collective norms (peers' actual risk behavior and attitudes) affect individuals' risk behaviors. Findings are discussed with regard to theorizing normative influences on risk behavior and practical implications.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Die dynamischen Entwicklungen im Gesundheitssystem gehen mit einer aktiveren und stärker partizipativen Patientenrolle einher, in der Patient*innen als informierte Entscheider*innen ihre Versorgung mitgestalten. In diesem Zuge gewinnt das gesundheitsbezogene Informationshandeln an Bedeutung, jedoch wird es bislang nicht systematisch erfasst. Der Health Information National Trends Survey Germany (HINTS Germany) schließt diese Lücke. Methodik HINTS Germany wurde als telefonische Befragung einer Stichprobe von N = 2902 Personen durchgeführt. Der Fragebogen beinhaltet diverse Aspekte der Suche nach und Nutzung von Gesundheitsinformationen, der Versorgung, des Gesundheitszustands und -verhaltens. Ergebnisse Die ersten Erkenntnisse belegen, dass es regionale und geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede im Gesundheitsinformationshandeln gibt. Etwa jede vierte befragte Person berichtet von Problemen bei der Informationssuche. Die meistgenutzten Informationsquellen sind Ärzt*innen und anderes medizinisches Fachpersonal sowie das Internet, wobei Ärzt*innen das mit Abstand größte Vertrauen entgegengebracht wird. Diskussion Der eher seltene Zugriff auf das Internet als primäre Quelle korrespondiert mit dem geringeren Vertrauen, das die Befragten in das Internet als Quelle für Gesundheitsinformationen legen, was auch aus anderen Studien bekannt ist. Dies sollte jedoch nicht darüber hinwegtäuschen, dass das Internet als ergänzende Quelle einen hohen Stellenwert haben kann, also in Kombination mit anderen Informationen genutzt wird, beispielsweise nach einem Arztbesuch. HINTS Germany bietet eine für die erwachsene Bevölkerung in Deutschland repräsentative Datengrundlage, mit der die Bedeutung der Gesundheitsinformationssuche für gesundheitsbezogene Einstellungen und Verhaltensweisen differenziert analysiert werden kann.

Patients’ participation in healthcare requires comprehensive health knowledge and can benefit from online health information seeking behaviours (O-HISB). The internet is a particularly vital source for seeking health-related information in many regions of the world. Therefore, we take a European cross-country comparative perspective on O-HISB. We aim to compare the importance of personal, health(care)-related, and cognitive determinants of using the internet for health-related purposes in four European countries. We conducted online surveys among the German, Swiss, Dutch, and Austrian public and described patterns of health information seeking online. The internet seemed to be a widely used source of health information in the four selected European countries. The explanation patterns of personal, health(care)-related, and cognitive factors differ by country and between selecting the internet as a source of health information and the frequency of online use. Using online media appeared to be more common for women and for current health problems. Respondents’ willingness and competencies are essential for online health information seeking. To prevent the increase of social and health-related disparities, there is an urgent need to support underprivileged population groups and increase motivations and eHealth literacy to use the internet for health-related purposes.