Health Information, The Internet, And The Digital Divide

Abstract

Through an analysis of recent data on adults' and children's computer use and experiences, this DataWatch shows that use of computers and the Internet is widespread and that significant percentages of the public are already using the Internet to get health information. The surveys also show that the Internet is already a useful vehicle for reaching large numbers of lower-income, less-educated, and minority Americans. However, a substantial digital divide continues to characterize computer and Internet use, with lower-income blacks especially affected. Implications for the future of health communication on the Internet also are explored.

Measuring Prevalence: Prevalence of South Australia's online health seekers

“…Two US studies conducted in 1999 and 2000 found that 31% (aged less than 60 years, n=1,237) 6 and 27% (n=12,751) 7 of all American adults sought health information via the Internet. In 2000, 49 % of US adults had Internet access.…”

Parental influences on children’s eating behaviour and characteristics of successful parent-focussed interventions

“…In particular, they have the potential to improve health disparities by increasing patient access to health-improving treatments and interventions among those that may not seek professional medical advice elsewhere (Gibbons et al, 2009). The latter point may be particularly true for many parents, particularly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, who may be more likely to seek help with feeding difficulties online (Brodie et al, 2000).…”

Information and Efficiency in Vietnamese Patients' Choice of Health-Care Provider: A Short Report

“…Information is important for service providers to improve the quality of long-term care and for patients to make decisions regarding their health plans (Brodie et al, 2000;Haux et al, 2002;Miller, 1998;Mor, 2005;Rain, 2007;Thompson & Brailer, 2004;Tumlinson, Bottigheimer, Mahoney, Stone, & Hendricks, 1997). In advanced health-care systems, the role of information has been undisputed, and administrators, scientists, and practitioners continue to find ways to improve the health-care information system (Edgman-Levitan & Cleary, 1996;Isaacs, 1996).…”

“…Lee, Goh, & Chua (2010) confirm the important role of health-care portals for Internet users in North America and Asia, and they report different behaviors of the Internet-based portals in accessing, creating, and transferring health-care knowledge. There exists the problem of rising inequality regarding the use of ICT in seeking health-care information (Brodie et al, 2000;Damman, Hendriks, Rademakers, Delnoij, & Groenewegen, 2009). …”

“…In hospitals, manual methods of medical data storage are still widely used (Nguyen, Hai, Webster, & Nimunkar, 2011). The knowledge base and skills of both professionals and patients need critical updates to be able to reap the benefits of e-health (Brodie et al, 2000;Damman et al, 2009;Eysenbach & Diepgen, 2001;Nguyen, Naguib, Tawfik, & Phuong, 2012). Apart from friends/relatives, Vietnamese patients also refer to similar sources as observed everywhere else in the world: mass media (including the Internet) and health professionals/experts (Rain, 2007;Tu & Lauer, 2008).…”