How does searching for health information on the Internet affect individuals' demand for health care services?

Background The number of older adults with vision impairment (VI) is growing. As health care services increasingly call for patients to use technology, it is important to examine internet/health information technology (HIT) use among older adults with VI. Objective This study aimed to examine (1) the rates of internet/HIT use among older adults with VI compared with a matched sample of their peers without VI, (2) associations of VI with internet/HIT use, and (3) association of HIT use with psychological distress, assessed with the Kessler-6 screen. Methods Data were obtained from the 2013 to 2018 US National Health Interview Survey. Older adults (aged ≥65 years) with self-reported VI were matched with older adults without VI, in a 1:1 ratio, based on age, sex, number of chronic medical conditions, and functional limitations (N=2866). Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models, with sociodemographic factors, health conditions, health insurance type, and health care service use as covariates, were used to examine the research questions. Results In total, 3.28% of older adults (compared with 0.84% of those aged 18-64 years) reported VI, and 25.7% of them were aged ≥85 years. Those with VI were significantly more socioeconomically disadvantaged than those without VI and less likely to use the internet (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.64, 95% CI0.49-0.83) and HIT (aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.56-0.97). However, among internet users, VI was not associated with HIT use. HIT use was associated with lower odds of mild/moderate or serious psychological distress (aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43-0.90), whereas VI was associated with greater odds of mild/moderate or serious distress (aOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.36-2.49). Health care provider contacts were also associated with higher odds of internet or HIT use. Conclusions Compared with their matched age peers without VI, older adults with VI are less likely to use HIT because they are less likely to use the internet. Socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults experiencing a digital divide need help to access information and communication technologies through a fee waiver or subsidy to cover internet equipment and subscription and ensure continuous connectivity. Older adults with VI who do not know how to use the internet/HIT but want to learn should be provided instruction, with special attention to accessibility features and adaptive devices. Older adults with a low income also need better access to preventive eye care and treatment of VI as well as other health care services.

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Impact of Universal Health Care Coverage on patient demand for health care services in Thailand

Health Policy ◽

10.1016/j.healthpol.2011.08.008 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 103 (2-3) ◽

pp. 228-235 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jirawat Panpiemras ◽

Thitima Puttitanun ◽

Krislert Samphantharak ◽

Kannika Thampanishvong

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Universal Health Care ◽

Health Care Coverage ◽

Demand For Health Care ◽

Care Services ◽

Universal Health Care Coverage ◽

Demand For Health ◽

Universal Health

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Internet and Health Information Technology Use and Psychological Distress Among Older Adults With Self-Reported Vision Impairment: Case-Control Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.17294 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Namkee G Choi ◽

Diana M DiNitto ◽

Othelia EunKyoung Lee ◽

Bryan Y Choi

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Information Technology ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Health Information ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Vision Impairment ◽

The Internet ◽

Socioeconomically Disadvantaged ◽

Care Services

BACKGROUND The number of older adults with vision impairment (VI) is growing. As health care services increasingly call for patients to use technology, it is important to examine internet/health information technology (HIT) use among older adults with VI. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine (1) the rates of internet/HIT use among older adults with VI compared with a matched sample of their peers without VI, (2) associations of VI with internet/HIT use, and (3) association of HIT use with psychological distress, assessed with the Kessler-6 screen. METHODS Data were obtained from the 2013 to 2018 US National Health Interview Survey. Older adults (aged ≥65 years) with self-reported VI were matched with older adults without VI, in a 1:1 ratio, based on age, sex, number of chronic medical conditions, and functional limitations (N=2866). Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models, with sociodemographic factors, health conditions, health insurance type, and health care service use as covariates, were used to examine the research questions. RESULTS In total, 3.28% of older adults (compared with 0.84% of those aged 18-64 years) reported VI, and 25.7% of them were aged ≥85 years. Those with VI were significantly more socioeconomically disadvantaged than those without VI and less likely to use the internet (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.64, 95% CI0.49-0.83) and HIT (aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.56-0.97). However, among internet users, VI was not associated with HIT use. HIT use was associated with lower odds of mild/moderate or serious psychological distress (aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43-0.90), whereas VI was associated with greater odds of mild/moderate or serious distress (aOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.36-2.49). Health care provider contacts were also associated with higher odds of internet or HIT use. CONCLUSIONS Compared with their matched age peers without VI, older adults with VI are less likely to use HIT because they are less likely to use the internet. Socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults experiencing a digital divide need help to access information and communication technologies through a fee waiver or subsidy to cover internet equipment and subscription and ensure continuous connectivity. Older adults with VI who do not know how to use the internet/HIT but want to learn should be provided instruction, with special attention to accessibility features and adaptive devices. Older adults with a low income also need better access to preventive eye care and treatment of VI as well as other health care services.

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Effect of COVID-19 on the risk of household demand for health care in Togo

10.21203/rs.3.rs-179304/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yaovi TOSSOU

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Relative Risk ◽

Risk Ratio ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Health Centre ◽

Relative Risk Ratio ◽

Self Medication ◽

Demand For Health Care ◽

Care Services ◽

Demand For Health

Abstract Background Barriers on the demand side of the health care system are as important as supply side factors in deterring patients from obtaining effective treatment during COVID-19. Developing countries, including Togo, have focused on reducing the risk of health care use during this period by ensuring basic health care services, as an important policy to improve health outcomes and meet international obligations to make health services accessible. Methods The data used come from a national household survey conducted from 8 to 17 July 2020 covering all 44 districts of Togo's 6 health regions. In each district capital, a minimum of 30 households were included by a systematic random draw at two levels (district then household). On the basis of these data, the multinomial regression model is used to identify the risk factors for the demand for health care services during COVID-19. Results A total of 1946 (with a response rate of 98.3%) participants were included in the study. The conclusion on households over 60 years of age indicates that the relative risk ratio (RRR = 23.97; 95% CI = 0.93; 615.38) allows households to practice self-medication instead of modern care structures. The multinomial model revealed that the relative risk ratio of activities before COVID-19 (RRR = 4.879; 95% CI = 1.018; 23.38) allows households to maintain their choice of self-medication and (RRR = 3.139; 95% CI = 0.91; 0.829) to prefer public health centre. As an educated head of household (RRR = 0.192; 95% CI = 0.017, 2.113) he prefers the choice of private health centre during COVID-19. Conclusions This study found that the majority (30.49%) of patients sought health care. The analysis shows that the loss of employment, pre-COVID-19 activities in households and regions not infected by the pandemic allow households to remain in the choice of health care demand (self-medication and public hospitals) despite the impacts of COVID-19. On the other hand, the level of higher education and age determine an alternative choice of health care provision by households. Therefore, policy makers need to put a particular emphasis on social policies to address household health shocks.

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A Follow up to Semi-Automatic Systems for Exchanging Health Information

Public Health and Welfare ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-1674-3.ch062 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 1316-1334

Author(s):

Dimitrios Emmanouil ◽

Antonia Mourtzikou

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Information ◽

Mobile Devices ◽

Automatic System ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Care Services ◽

Fully Automatic ◽

Citizen Service ◽

Automatic Systems

The present research is an attempt to explore the applicability of the best possible service in the area of organized health care services, at fixed predefined points of service. The suggestion is that there should be a system that will receive and provide information about health matters of general public concern. Thus following the lead of Citizen Service Centers in Greece, it can be extended conveniently to mobile devices. The main survey was conducted on a sample of Municipalities and Citizens in the year 2013. The results indicate that the new proposed system could be more secure for citizens for future use, based on supervising procedure by proper employee who will provide more help to the users, instead of a fully automatic system.

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A Qualitative Investigation into the Use of Health Services among Melbourne Chinese

Australian Journal of Primary Health ◽

10.1071/py01044 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 38 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Bridget H-H. Hsu-Hage ◽

K. C. Tang ◽

Rebecca Jie Li ◽

Vivian Lin ◽

Tony Chow ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Service ◽

Health Information ◽

General Health ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Service Utilisation ◽

Community Groups ◽

Health Concerns ◽

Care Services ◽

Use Of Health Care

Understanding health service utilisation by community groups can be used to enhance cost-effective service delivery planning. In an inquiry into general health needs, and experiences with health service utilisation by Chinese living in Melbourne, we conducted a series of focus group discussions to explore community health-seeking behaviour. Seven focus groups were drawn from community groups and bilingual health workers in the period September-October 1999. Discussions were carried out in dialect familiar to the participants, facilitated by trained multilingual researchers, tape recorded and transcribed in Chinese and then translated into English. Cross validation was carried out by an independent researcher. Themes that emerged from these discussions included common pathways to care seeking, barriers to the use of health care services, general health concerns, and perceived validity of health information sources. Participants opt for self care when feeling unwell if the condition is perceived as ?not severe?. Use of over-the-counter medication is usually the first course of action. There is a tendency to ?wait and see? when feeling unwell. The use of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (TCMP) is common, while continuing to see Orthodox Western Medicine practitioners. There are, however, common concerns about the quality of care provided by TCM practitioners and their qualifications. Language, transport, and cost are among other barriers that undermine the use of health care services. Participants reported diabetes, heart disease risk factors, peptic ulcer, hay fever and asthma, poor vision, dental problems, social isolation, and gambling among the most common health concerns. Participants accepted health information from a wide range of sources and placed greater trust in material disseminated by SBS Chinese Radio Programs and the Chinese Health Foundation; an established community organisation run by voluntary health professionals. In conclusion, the study confirmed a number of patterns by which the Chinese community sought and utilised health services and associated factors.

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Open Information Management in User-driven Health Care

Open Information Management ◽

10.4018/978-1-60566-246-6.ch018 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 397-405 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rakesh Biswas ◽

Kevin Smith ◽

Carmel M. Martin ◽

Joachim P. Sturmberg ◽

Ankur Joshi

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Professional ◽

Health Information ◽

Information Management ◽

Support Services ◽

Health Care Services ◽

Pilot Project ◽

Care Services ◽

Pre Treatment

This chapter discusses the role of open health information management in the the development of a novel, adaptable mixed-platform for supporting health care informational needs. This platform enables clients (patient users) requiring healthcare to enter an unstructured but detailed account of their dayto- day health information requirements that may be structured into a lifetime electronic health record. It illustrates the discussion with an operational model and a pilot project in order to begin to explore the potential of a collaborative network of patient and health professional users to support the provision of health care services, and helping to effectively engage patient users with their own healthcare. Such a solution has the potential to allow both patient and health professional users to produce useful materials, to contribute to improved social health outcomes in terms of health education and primary disease prevention, and to address both pre-treatment and post-treatment phases of illness that are often neglected in the context of overburdened support services.

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