Internet Use for Health-Related Information via Personal Computers and Cell Phones in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Survey

Abstract

BackgroundThe Internet is known to be used for health purposes by the general public all over the world. However, little is known about the use of, attitudes toward, and activities regarding eHealth among the Japanese population.ObjectivesThis study aimed to measure the prevalence of Internet use for health-related information compared with other sources, and to examine the effects on user knowledge, attitudes, and activities with regard to Internet use for health-related information in Japan. We examined the extent of use via personal computers and cell phones.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of a quasi-representative sample (N = 1200) of the Japanese general population aged 15–79 years in September 2007. The main outcome measures were (1) self-reported rates of Internet use in the past year to acquire health-related information and to contact health professionals, family, friends, and peers specifically for health-related purposes, and (2) perceived effects of Internet use on health care.ResultsThe prevalence of Internet use via personal computer for acquiring health-related information was 23.8% (286/1200) among those surveyed, whereas the prevalence via cell phone was 6% (77). Internet use via both personal computer and cell phone for communicating with health professionals, family, friends, or peers was not common. The Internet was used via personal computer for acquiring health-related information primarily by younger people, people with higher education levels, and people with higher household incomes. The majority of those who used the Internet for health care purposes responded that the Internet improved their knowledge or affected their lifestyle attitude, and that they felt confident in the health-related information they obtained from the Internet. However, less than one-quarter thought it improved their ability to manage their health or affected their health-related activities.ConclusionsJapanese moderately used the Internet via personal computers for health purposes, and rarely used the Internet via cell phones. Older people, people with lower education levels, and people with lower household incomes were less likely to access the Internet via cell phone. The Internet moderately improved users’ health-related knowledge and attitudes but seldom changed their health-related abilities and activities. To encourage communication between health providers and consumers, it is important to improve eHealth literacy, especially in middle-aged people. It is also important to make adequate amendments to the reimbursement payment system and nationwide eHealth privacy and security framework, and to develop a collaborative relationship among industry, government, and academia.

Support for e-Health Services Among Elderly Primary Care Patients

“…This is an encouraging result. As might be expected, 11,22,23,43,44 uses of computer, Internet, and mobile phone were strongly related to the acceptance of e-health services both generally and in particular types of e-health applications. Women predominated among ehealth supporters (women, 61%; men, 39%).…”

The Acceptance of e-Health Solutions Among Patients with Chronic Respiratory Conditions

“…35,45,47,[49][50][51][52] This effect was also seen in surveys carried out in the general population. 30,53,54 The surveys conducted among patients with malignant or chronic conditions do not confirm the effect of the severity of symptoms, disease stage, or disease duration on the health-related use of the Internet. 43,46,51,55 Our survey demonstrated that the relationship between the acceptance of e-health services and the intensity of the burden resulting from the disease (duration of chronic condition) is not straightforward.…”

“…Contrary to the results of our study, surveys performed among the general population usually show significant differences in terms of the use or acceptance of the Internet for health-related activities depending on sex 27,29,30,56 or place of residence. 27,29,54,[57][58][59] As for hospitalization related to chronic disease, one could expect that more frequent contact with the healthcare system would increase patients' acceptance of e-health solutions. However, this was not confirmed by our study.…”

Internet Use and Access to Health Information among Canadians: Are the Elderly on the Sidelines?

“…Limited population-based studies are available to obtain a more precise profile of the Internet use and access to health information among various age groups, including the elderly. While [43] claimed that some of the strongest growth in the Internet use will be seen among the elderly populations with nearly 50% of this group was expected to be online by 2005, the growth continues to be slow among the elderly with only 29% using this medium in 2010 [16,44]. In Canada and around the world, the elderly cohort is the fastest growing segment of the population.…”