Health-seeking behaviors and health information gathering in older Mexican American males.

Abstract

Evidence suggests that men's health disparities are linked to attitudes and beliefs toward health promotion and risk reduction, participation in high-risk behaviors, and limited health care access and utilization influenced by socioeconomic challenges. However, we know less about the specific factors related to health disparities in older Mexican American males. The purpose of this study was to explore the cultural, social, environmental, and gender factors influencing health-seeking behaviors and health information gathering in older Mexican American males. Indepth interviews were conducted with 14 older Mexican American males aged 65-80 years. Based on language preference, interviews were conducted in either Spanish or English. A standardized moderator's guide was used to examine the participant's perceptions of health, maintenance of health, gender influences on health, and sources of men's health information and health promotion programs. Data were collected, organized, and analyzed following the methodology of transcendental phenomenology and the Social Ecological Model. Two major themes related to health-seeking behaviors and health information gathering emerged: 1) top external sources heeded include women, health care providers, and the Internet and 2) men regard inner prompts for self-determined self-care. Future research should consider these external sources and inner prompts when developing targeted health promotion interventions, such as physical activity programs, with older Mexican American males.

Risk perceptions and risk‐averse attitude influenced older patients' first‐diagnosis‐seeking behaviour at tertiary hospitals

“…47 Online information has been found to be one of the main external sources that influence individual's risk perceptions. 48 This study confirmed the increased influence of the Internet on older patients' risk perceptions and risk-averse attitude. Various news and events reported on the Internet provide older patients with information about many potential risks.…”

“…The increasing dissemination of health information via the Internet is sometimes a challenge in Chinese society 47 . Online information has been found to be one of the main external sources that influence individual's risk perceptions 48 . This study confirmed the increased influence of the Internet on older patients' risk perceptions and risk‐averse attitude.…”

Online Health Information Seeking Behaviors Among Older Adults: Systematic Scoping Review

“…Functional decline [20,34] Vision impairment [47,48] Physical challenges (eg, back pain, knee injury) [32,35,36] Illness conditions Low literacy [49,50] English language literacy [51,52] Basic health knowledge [53,54] Digital literacy [52,55,56] Information literacy [24,33,43] Health literacy [27,57] eHealth literacy Low self-efficacy [18,49,58,59] Low efficacy and anxiety associated with computer use [49,60,61] Low efficacy in reading and learning [62,63] Low efficacy in OHIS a [55,62] Low efficacy in health information evaluation Negative attitudes [39] Attitude toward internet use [42] Attitude toward technology [20,61,64] Privacy concerns Health beliefs [45] External locus of control [31] Fatalistic beliefs…”

Gender Differences in End-of-Life Care in Older Mexican American Adults

“…8,9 Older MA men describe MA women as health promoters and primary care providers who influence health-care decision-making. 10 The underuse of health-care services in MA men has been linked to culture and gender role structures. 11 Therefore, the purpose of this systematic integrative review was to determine how gender influences EOL decision-making among older MAs.…”