The high prevalence of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and inefficient preventive measures taken to curb the disease are significant public health concerns. Rapid and innovative advances in digital media offer opportunities for health education, which could result in increased preventive behaviors. This study assessed preventive behaviors against contracting COVID-19 and tested mediation pathways linking four types of digital media consumption (social media, mobile social networking apps [MSNs], online news media, and social live steaming services [SLSSs]) to preventive behaviors, mediated by worry. Results from an online survey (N = 511) revealed that the vast majority (>90 percent) of respondents had very often or always practiced preventive behaviors against contracting COVID-19 such as washing their hands more regularly with soap and water, staying away from crowded places, and wearing face masks out in public. In addition, COVID-19 information seeking through the four types of digital media was a salient parameter that encouraged people to practice preventive behaviors either directly or indirectly. Specifically, seeking COVID-19-related information on MSNs, SLSSs, and online news media was directly associated with preventive behaviors. Whereas COVID-19 information consumption on social media, MSNs, and SLSSs during the infectious disease outbreak could elicit intense worry and, in turn, increase preventive behaviors. The reasons for and implications of the results are discussed.
Purpose: To investigate the trend of patient portal use in the general population and the barriers to adoption. Participants: We analyzed 3 iterations of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) collected in 2014, 2017, and 2018. Measures: Patient portal use, high-speed Internet access, data safety confidence, prior experience of online patient provider communication (OPPC), and demographic variables. Analysis: Logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for the 3 iterations of HINTS. Results: The use of patient portals increased from 25.6% in 2014 to 30.5% in 2017, and 31.4% in 2018. These users were more likely to be white female with higher levels of education or income. Meanwhile, high-speed Internet access, prior experience of OPPC, and data safety confidence were positive predictors of patient portal use in all 3 iterations. Conclusion: The use of patient portals in the general public remains low and a significant digital divide persists, presenting a major challenge on meaningful use of electronic health record. We call for more effective interventions to address these gaps. Such interventions should target people of low socioeconomic status and focus on improving eHealth literacy and patients’ confidence in data safety.
Expanding third-person effect (TPE) research to digital disinformation, this article investigates the impact of COVID-19 digital fake news exposure on individuals' perceived susceptibility of influence on themselves, their close others, and their distant others. Findings from a survey of 511 Chinese respondents suggest that, overall, individuals would perceive themselves to be less vulnerable than close others and distant others to the impact of COVID-19 digital disinformation. The highest self-other perceptual discrepancy is found when individuals receive disinformation on mobile social networking apps. Also, individuals who practice more active fact-checking perceive themselves to be less susceptible. The perception of disinformation effects on self as well as the self-other perceptual discrepancy is both positively related to emotional responses (anxiety, fear, and worry) to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study contributes to existing research by linking exposure to disinformation in different digital channels, the TPEs, and emotional outcomes in the context of a public health crisis. It also highlights the importance of educating and enabling factchecking behaviors on digital media, which could help to reduce negative emotional impact of the disinformation.
In the face of a pandemic, social media have found to be vital information channels that might exert a positive influence on people's preventive behaviors. However, little is known about the underlying processes that may mediate or moderate the relationship. The present study examined the relation between novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) information consumption on social media and preventive behaviors, as well as the mediation role of personal responsibility and moderation role of health orientation. A sample of 511 online participants (mean age = 32.47 years) responded to anonymous questionnaires regarding COVID-19 information consumption on social media, health orientation, personal responsibility, and preventive behaviors. Bias-corrected bootstrap method was used to test the moderated mediation model. Results indicated that after controlling for participants' age, gender, education, income, and insurance, personal responsibility mediated the relationship between COVID-19 information consumption on social media and preventive behaviors. Meanwhile, the direct relation between COVID-19 information consumption on social media and preventive behaviors, and the mediation effect of personal responsibility were moderated by health orientation. The present study can extend our knowledge about how risk information consumption on social media is related to one's behavioral outcomes. Implications and limitations about the present study are also discussed.
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