Patterns of Health Information Technology Use according to Sexual Orientation among US Adults Aged 50 and Older: Findings from a National Representative Sample—National Health Interview Survey 2013–2014

Background The use of health information technology (HIT) has been proposed to improve disease management in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Objective This study aims to report the prevalence of HIT use in adults with diabetes in the United States and examine the factors associated with HIT use. Methods We analyzed data from 7999 adults who self-reported a diabetes diagnosis as collected by the National Health Interview Survey (2016-2018). All analyses were weighted to account for the complex survey design. Results Overall, 41.2% of adults with diabetes reported looking up health information on the web, and 22.8% used eHealth services (defined as filled a prescription on the web, scheduled an appointment with a health care provider on the web, or communicated with a health care provider via email). In multivariable models, patients who were female (vs male: prevalence ratio [PR] 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.24), had higher education (above college vs less than high school: PR 3.61, 95% CI 3.01-4.33), had higher income (high income vs poor: PR 1.40, 95% CI 1.23-1.59), or had obesity (vs normal weight: PR 1.11, 95% CI 1.01-1.22) were more likely to search for health information on the web. Similar associations were observed among age, race and ethnicity, education, income, and the use of eHealth services. Patients on insulin were more likely to use eHealth services (on insulin vs no medication: PR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04-1.41). Conclusions Among adults with diabetes, HIT use was lower in those who were older, were members of racial minority groups, had less formal education, or had lower household income. Health education interventions promoted through HIT should account for sociodemographic factors.

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Use of Health Information Technology by Adults With Diabetes in the United States: Cross-sectional Analysis of National Health Interview Survey Data (2016-2018) (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.27220 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Seamus Y Wang ◽

Hsin-Chieh Yeh ◽

Arielle Apfel Stein ◽

Edgar R Miller

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Health Care ◽

Information Technology ◽

Health Information Technology ◽

Health Information ◽

National Health Interview Survey ◽

The United States ◽

Interview Survey ◽

Ehealth Services ◽

The Web

BACKGROUND The use of health information technology (HIT) has been proposed to improve disease management in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. OBJECTIVE This study aims to report the prevalence of HIT use in adults with diabetes in the United States and examine the factors associated with HIT use. METHODS We analyzed data from 7999 adults who self-reported a diabetes diagnosis as collected by the National Health Interview Survey (2016-2018). All analyses were weighted to account for the complex survey design. RESULTS Overall, 41.2% of adults with diabetes reported looking up health information on the web, and 22.8% used eHealth services (defined as filled a prescription on the web, scheduled an appointment with a health care provider on the web, or communicated with a health care provider via email). In multivariable models, patients who were female (vs male: prevalence ratio [PR] 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.24), had higher education (above college vs less than high school: PR 3.61, 95% CI 3.01-4.33), had higher income (high income vs poor: PR 1.40, 95% CI 1.23-1.59), or had obesity (vs normal weight: PR 1.11, 95% CI 1.01-1.22) were more likely to search for health information on the web. Similar associations were observed among age, race and ethnicity, education, income, and the use of eHealth services. Patients on insulin were more likely to use eHealth services (on insulin vs no medication: PR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04-1.41). CONCLUSIONS Among adults with diabetes, HIT use was lower in those who were older, were members of racial minority groups, had less formal education, or had lower household income. Health education interventions promoted through HIT should account for sociodemographic factors.

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