scholarly journals Online Health Information Seeking Behavior of Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Among Government Employees in Putrajaya Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 419-433
Author(s):  
Azriey Mazlan ◽  
◽  
Nor Azura Adzharuddin ◽  
Siti Zobidah Omar ◽  
Ezhar Tamam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Government Employees ◽  
Ehealth Literacy ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking ◽  
Non Communicable Disease

Seeking health information is becoming more convenient with various health resources online. It would be beneficial to explore the perception of individuals’ health status concerning health information seeking and eHealth literacy. With government employees in Putrajaya found to be at high risk of Non-Communicable Disease (NCD), based on the high rate of obesity, it is beneficial to explore the factors associated with OHISB among this population to ensure adequate attainment and sharing of health information and self-management resources. The Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (CMIS) is used to measure the factors that influence online health information-seeking behaviour (OHISB). Based on previous studies, the CMIS is commonly used to examine cancer patient’s information seeking on health information behaviour. However, this paper will be focusing on government employee’s behaviour in using online information as to their health reference. Previous studies have shown that information seeking has resulted in changes in the behaviour of cancer patients. It is believed that the outcome of this study will be beneficial in terms of developing strategies to encourage a healthier lifestyle among this population to prevent the occurrence of NCDs. Therefore, this paper elaborates on some of the theories used in previous studies to enrich individual and community online health information-seeking behaviour and health knowledge dissemination. The findings of this study show the direct relationships between trust in internet health and eHealth Literacy were significant towards OHISB. However, the direct relationships between direct experience, salience, unmet information needs and self-efficacy belief towards OHISB were not significant. Keywords: Comprehensive model of information seeking, online health information seeking behaviour, non-communicable diseases, ehealth literacy, government employees.

scholarly journals Online Health Information Seeking and eHealth Literacy Among Patients Attending a Primary Care Clinic in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Survey (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Ka-Ki Wong ◽  
Man-Kuen Cheung
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Ehealth Literacy ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking

BACKGROUND Previous studies have suggested that patients’ online health information seeking affects their medical consultations and patient-doctor relationships. An up-to-date picture of patients’ online health information-seeking behaviors can inform and prepare frontline health care professionals to collaborate, facilitate, or empower their patients to access and manage health information found online. OBJECTIVE This study explores the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of online health information-seeking behaviors among primary care patients in Hong Kong, and the relations between online health information seeking and electronic health (eHealth) literacy. METHODS Patients attending a university primary care clinic in Hong Kong were asked to complete a questionnaire survey on their demographic backgrounds; health status; frequency and pattern of online health information seeking; contents, sources, and reasons for online health information seeking; and their eHealth literacy. eHealth literacy was measured by the validated eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). Regression analyses explored various demographic and behavioral predictors to online health information seeking, and predictors to eHealth literacy. RESULTS In all, 97.32% (1162/1194) respondents used the internet, of which 87.44% (1016/1162) had used the internet to find health information. Most respondents (65.97%, 665/1008) searched once monthly or more. Few (26.88%, 271/1008) asked their doctor about health information found online, but most doctors (56.1%, 152/271) showed little or no interest at all. The most sought topic was symptom (81.59%, 829/1016), the top reason was noticing new symptoms or change in health (70.08%, 712/1016), the most popular source was online encyclopedia (69.98%, 711/1016), and the top reason for choosing a source was convenience (55.41%, 563/1016). Poisson regression analysis identified high eHEALS score, fair or poor self-rated health, having a chronic medical condition, and using the internet several times a day as significant predictors of online health information seeking. Multiple regression analysis identified lower age, better self-rated health, more frequent internet use, more frequent online health information seeking, and more types of health information sought as significant predictors to higher eHealth literacy. CONCLUSIONS Online health information seeking is prevalent among primary care patients in Hong Kong, but only a minority shared the information with doctors. Websites were chosen more for convenience than for accuracy or authoritativeness. Doctors should recognize patients’ online health information-seeking behavior, and facilitate and empower them to search for high-quality online health information.

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