The Internet as a Health Information Source: Findings from the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey and Implications for Health Communication

Abstract

A wealth of health information is available online, but we do not fully understand the implications for health communication. This study examined whether health information seekers who turn to the Internet first differ from those who turn elsewhere. Data from the 2,338 respondents to the mail portion of the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2007 who reported looking for health information for themselves were analyzed. Logistic regression was used to examine whether health information seekers turning to the Internet first differed in terms of demographics, information preferences and seeking confidence, and communication with providers from those using other sources. In the final model, Internet users were younger, more educated, higher income, preferred numbers rather than words to describe chance, and think it is very important to get personal medical information electronically. There were no differences in terms of gender, health status, confidence seeking health information, or communication with providers. Health information seekers who turn to the Internet first are different, both in terms of demographics and information preferences. As the use of communication technologies increases, health communicators need to be attentive to the potential for communication inequalities.

Media portrayal of non-invasive prenatal testing: a missing ethical dimension

“…These news reports came from a variety of sources (e.g., PR newswire, NewsRx, Business Wire, Canada NewsWire, Reuters News) and were potentially accessible to non-specialist audiences. While we are unable to speculate about the actual impact of those sources on the public perceptions of NIPT, it was important to include all online publications since in recent years the Internet has become the first source of information for general health issues and health services for most people [Koch-Weser et al, 2010;Marrie et al, 2013].…”

Online Coping After Negative Life Events

“…Moreover, there has recently been a rise in studies examining the role of social network sites (SNS, mostly Facebook) in providing support (Damian & Van Ingen, 2014;Frison & Eggermont, 2015;Oh, Ozkaya, & LaRose, 2014). Another extensively studied topic is the search for health information on the Internet (Cline & Haynes, 2001;Koch-Weser, Bradshaw, Gualtieri, & Gallagher, 2010;Wang, Walther, Pingree, & Hawkins, 2008). However, studies on these topics provide only fragmented information about online coping, as they investigate a particular form of online coping (though often labeled differently) and a particular form of Internet usage.…”

The health information national trends survey (HINTS): A resource for consumer engagement and health communication research

“…This has at times resulted in a HINTS item being used to define health literacy in one study and at the same item being conceptualized as an outcome of health literacy in another study. For example, Smith and colleagues used an item assessing the participant's preference for obtaining health information by words or numbers as an outcome of literacy [45], while Koch-Weser and colleagues used the same item to assess the participant's health literacy level itself [35]. Similarly, Jiang and colleagues used genetic test awareness to assess the scientific literacy component of the Zarcadoolas' Model of health literacy [33], while Langford et al conceptualized the same genetic test awareness item as an outcome of health literacy [37].…”