The Intersection of Gender and Place in Online Health Activities

Abstract

This study examines how rurality and gender are related to online health activities. Rural women face greater health risks and yet have access to a weaker health system infrastructure, which has resulted in a health disadvantage. New health information technologies may ameliorate some of these disparities; thus, the authors examine the relevance of gender and place in going online to search for health information, buy medicines, participate in health-related support groups, communicate with physicians, or maintain a personal health record. Analyzing data from the National Cancer Institute's 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey, the authors found that the relations between rurality and gender vary, depending on the specific type of online health activity, and that gender may be a more salient factor than rurality in determining whether individuals engage in particular types of online health activities. This study contributes to the literature by examining how gender and place are related to online health activities, a combined area neglected in past research, and advancing research on gender and technology. This research highlights the importance of expanding high-speed access in rural locations, increasing technological and health literacy, and tailoring the Internet to specific populations.

Online health information seeking and the association with anxiety among older adults

“…This result is consistent with the literature reporting a steady increase over the years of older adults who are OHIS (15). In addition, we found that across each wave, young-old older adults were more likely to be OHIS, which is also consistent with the literature (4,(16)(17)(18). Researchers also need to be cognizant of rapid changes, like COVID-19, that create new opportunities and new challenges for older adults to search for health resources via the Internet.…”

“…In addition to age, gender, education, annual income, and health status influence older adults' level of engagement with OHIS. Older adults who are female and who have more chronic health symptoms are more likely to be OHIS (16)(17)(18)(19)(20), whereas older adults with less than a high school education and an annual household income of <$25,000 are less likely to be OHIS (4).…”

Personal Health Record Use in the United States: Forecasting Future Adoption Levels

“…We conducted a sensitivity analysis to test the Bass model’s parameters and create a possible range of future PHR uptake by varying the technology introduction year [ 22 ]. The oldest estimates for PHRs entering the market place with the minimum functionalities described above puts their introduction around the year 2001 [ 23 ].…”