Health information in the digital age: an empirical study of the perceived benefits and costs of seeking and using health information from online sources

The Internet and social media are crucial platforms for health information. Factors such as the efficiency of online health information, the outcomes of seeking online health information and the awareness of reliable sources have become increasingly important for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine differences between elderly individuals’ income above and below the average monthly wage in relation to their online health information efficiency and the outcomes of seeking online health information; to evaluate types of online information sources with online health information efficiency and the outcomes of seeking online health information; and to explore online health information efficiency as a mediator between health status and awareness of online sources. A cross-sectional study design was conducted with 336 elderly participants age 65 or older. The participants volunteered to complete a questionnaire. No differences were found between the two groups regarding efficiency in retrieving health information from official online health sites and Google. Perceived efficiency mediated health status and awareness of online sources. In these challenging times, it is important to provide a tailor-made education strategy plan for reliable sources of online health information for the elderly, in order to enhance their technology safety skills. It is also important to explore other mediating variables between health status and awareness of online sources.

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The “Be All and End All”? Young People, Online Sexual Health Information, Science and Skepticism

Qualitative Health Research ◽

10.1177/10497323211003543 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104973232110035

Author(s):

Adrian Farrugia ◽

Andrea Waling ◽

Kiran Pienaar ◽

Suzanne Fraser

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Health Information ◽

Information Science ◽

Medical Information ◽

Health Resources ◽

Sexual Practices ◽

Sexual Health Information ◽

Science Society ◽

Online Sources

In this article, we investigate young people’s trust in online sexual health resources. Analyzing interviews with 37 young people in Australia using Irwin and Michael’s account of science–society relations and Warner’s conceptualization of “publics,” we explore the processes by which they assess the credibility of online sexual health information. We suggest that when seeking medical information, young people opt for traditionally authoritative online sources that purport to offer “facts.” By contrast, when seeking information about relationships or sexual practices, participants indicated a preference for websites presenting “experiences” rather than or as well as “facts.” Regardless of content, however, our participants approached online sexual health information skeptically and used various techniques to appraise its quality and trustworthiness. We argue that these young people are productively understood as a skeptical public of sexual health. We conclude by exploring the implications of our analysis for the provision of online sexual health information.

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The Benefit of Focusing on Air Pollution Instead of Climate Change: How Discussing Power Plant Emissions in the Context of Air Pollution, Rather than Climate Change, Influences Perceived Benefits, Costs, and Political Action for Policies to Limit Emissions

Science Communication ◽

10.1177/1075547020980443 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 107554702098044

Author(s):

P. Sol Hart ◽

Lauren Feldman

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Power Plant ◽

Environmental Impacts ◽

Political Ideology ◽

Political Action ◽

Perceived Benefits ◽

Power Plant Emissions ◽

Plant Emissions ◽

Benefits And Costs

This experiment examines how framing power plant emissions in terms of air pollution or climate change, and in terms of health or environmental impacts, influences perceived benefits and costs of policies to reduce emissions and intentions to take political action that supports such policies. A moderated-mediation model reveals that focusing on air pollution, instead of climate change, has a positive significant indirect influence on intended political action through the serial mediators of perceived benefits and costs. Political ideology moderates the association between perceived benefits and political action. No framing effects are observed in the comparison between health and environmental impacts.

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