Health Information-Seeking Behaviors of a German Speaking Minority in Italy: Latent Class Analysis of a Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Latent classes of health information-seeking behaviors of adults in a German-speaking minority of Italy were explored in a population-based, telephone survey on 10 health information sources conducted in South Tyrol, Italy. Data were collected from 504 adults (primary language German 68%, Italian 28%) and analyzed using latent class analysis and latent class multinomial logistic regression models. Three classes of health information-seeking behaviors emerged: “multidimensional” (23.3%), “interpersonal” (38.6%) and “technical/online” (38.1%). Compared to the “technical/online” class, “interpersonal” class members were older, had lower education than high school, and were less likely to be of Italian ethnicity. “Multidimensional” class members were more likely to be female, older, and of German ethnicity than those in the “technical/online” class. Linguistic ethnicity explains membership in classes of health-information-seeking behaviour. Policy makers and healthcare providers need to consider the health information-seeking behaviors of population subgroups to promote the health literacy skills of language minority groups.