Digital inequalities in health information seeking behaviors and experiences in the age of web 2.0: A population-based study in Hong Kong

Abstract

Background Inequalities in health information seeking behaviors (HISBs) using mass media and internet websites (web 1.0) are well documented. Little is known about web 2.0 such as social networking sites (SNS) and instant messaging (IM) and experiences of HISBs. Methods We surveyed representative Hong Kong Chinese adults (N = 10143, 54.9% female; 72.3% aged 25–64 years) on frequency of HISBs using traditional sources, internet websites, SNS (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), and IM (e.g., WhatsApp, WeChat) and experiences measured using Information Seeking Experience Scale. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for HISBs and experiences by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were yielded using multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance estimators. aPRs for experiences by HISBs using internet websites, SNS, and IM adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were also yielded. Results Being female, higher educational attainment, not smoking, and being physically active were associated with HISBs using any source (all P<0.05). Older age had decreased aPRs for HISBs using traditional sources (P for trend = 0.03), internet websites (P for trend<0.001), and SNS (P for trend<0.001) but not for IM (aged 45–64 years: aPR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.07, 2.03). Lower educational attainment and income were associated with negative experiences including feelings of effort and difficulties in understanding the information (all P for trend<0.05). Older age had increased aPRs for difficulties in understanding the information (P for trend = 0.003). Compared with internet websites, HISBs using IM was associated with feelings of frustration (aPR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.08, 1.79), difficulties in understanding the information (aPR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.12, 1.65), and quality concern (aPR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.08, 1.32). Conclusions We identified correlates of web-based health information seeking and experiences in Hong Kong Chinese adults. Providing greater access to and improved information environment of web 2.0 to the target groups may help address digital inequalities.

COVID-19 pandemic fatigue and its sociodemographic and psycho-behavioral correlates: a population-based cross-sectional study in Hong Kong

“…Those with tertiary education should be more knowledgeable, and thus was consistent with another unexpected result in the present study that more people who reported having more knowledge of COVID-19 also reported high pandemic fatigue. We previously reported that frequent use of the Internet as a source of COVID-19-related information was associated with psychological distress symptoms 36 , and that health information seeking was more prevalent among younger adults and those with higher education attainment 37 . These findings corroborate with the present results in suggesting that increased exposure to COVID-19-related information, especially among the younger and more educated people, could lead to earlier and stricter compliance of stringent control measures, which when prolonged with uncertainty about when the pandemic would end would lead to earlier and higher pandemic fatigue and related adverse health effects.…”

Prevalence and Correlates of Dietary and Nutrition Information Seeking Through Various Web-Based and Offline Media Sources Among Japanese Adults: Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…Studies have shown that being female and having a higher educational background are the strongest correlates of seeking health information from web-based sources [ 12 , 22 , 29 , 53 , 54 ]. Similar associations have also been suggested with regard to offline health information seeking [ 22 , 29 , 54 ], except for null or inverse associations between education and television exposure [ 38 , 75 , 76 ].…”

“…Taken together, the above findings indicate that very little is known about people’s information-seeking behavior toward healthy eating and its potential consequences [ 47 ]. For potential correlates of dietary and nutrition information seeking, this study particularly focused on health literacy [ 48 ], food literacy [ 49 ], and diet quality [ 50 - 52 ], all of which were assessed using validated tools, as well as important sociodemographic variables (sex, age, and education level) [ 12 , 22 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 53 , 54 ]. To achieve sufficient distribution of health literacy, food literacy, and diet quality within the data set, our population consisted of not only the general public but also health professionals allied to nutrition (eg, dietitians, registered dietitians, physicians, and dentists).…”

Increased global online interest in diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic: An infodemiology study

“…This study also showed that the percentage of individuals using the internet was positively correlated with online interest in diabetes. Access to technological devices and the internet were shown to be associated with more health-related information-seeking behavior on the internet ( Guo et al, 2021 ; H.Y. Lee et al, 2021 ).…”