scholarly journals Online Health Resource Use by Individuals With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Analysis Using the National Health Interview Survey

10.2196/15352 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. e15352
Author(s):  
Rong Yin ◽  
David M Neyens

Background The internet has enabled convenient and efficient health information searching which is valuable for individuals with chronic conditions requiring some level of self-management. However, there is little research evaluating what factors may impact the use of the internet for health-related tasks for specific clinical populations, such as individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases. Objective Our goal was to investigate the factors that influence internet use in acquiring health information by individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases. Specifically, we identified factors associated with internet searching behavior and using the internet for completing health-related tasks. Methods We used 2016 National Health Interview Survey weighted data to develop logistic regression models to predict the likelihood that individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases would use the internet for 2 types of tasks: seeking health information through online searches and using the internet to perform health-related tasks including scheduling appointments and emailing care providers. Results 2016 National Health Interview Survey weighted data include more than 3 million weighted adult respondents with inflammatory bowel diseases (approximately 1.29% of adults in the weighted data set). Our results suggest that approximately 66.3% of those with inflammatory bowel diseases reported using the internet at least once a day, and approximately 14.7% reported being dissatisfied with their current health care. About 62.3% of those with inflammatory bowel diseases reported that they had looked up health information online, 16.3% of those with inflammatory bowel diseases reported that they had scheduled an appointment with a health care provider online, and 21.6% reported having used a computer to communicate with a health provider by email. We found that women who were self-regulating their care were more likely to look up health information online than others. Both middle-aged and older adults with inflammatory bowel diseases who were unsatisfied with their current health care were less likely to look up health information online. Frequent internet users who were worried about medical costs were more likely to look up health information online. Similarly, the results from our statistical models suggest that individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases who were frequent internet users were more likely to use the internet for specific health-related tasks. Additionally, women with inflammatory bowel diseases who reported being married were less likely to use the internet for specific health-related tasks. Conclusions For those with inflammatory bowel diseases, there are additional socioeconomic and behavioral factors that impact the use of the internet for health information and health-related tasks. Future research should evaluate how these factors moderate the use of the internet and identify how online resources can support clinical populations in ways that improve access to information, support health self-management, and subsequently improve health outcomes.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Yin ◽  
David M Neyens

BACKGROUND The internet has enabled convenient and efficient health information searching which is valuable for individuals with chronic conditions requiring some level of self-management. However, there is little research evaluating what factors may impact the use of the internet for health-related tasks for specific clinical populations, such as individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases. OBJECTIVE Our goal was to investigate the factors that influence internet use in acquiring health information by individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases. Specifically, we identified factors associated with internet searching behavior and using the internet for completing health-related tasks. METHODS We used 2016 National Health Interview Survey weighted data to develop logistic regression models to predict the likelihood that individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases would use the internet for 2 types of tasks: seeking health information through online searches and using the internet to perform health-related tasks including scheduling appointments and emailing care providers. RESULTS 2016 National Health Interview Survey weighted data include more than 3 million weighted adult respondents with inflammatory bowel diseases (approximately 1.29% of adults in the weighted data set). Our results suggest that approximately 66.3% of those with inflammatory bowel diseases reported using the internet at least once a day, and approximately 14.7% reported being dissatisfied with their current health care. About 62.3% of those with inflammatory bowel diseases reported that they had looked up health information online, 16.3% of those with inflammatory bowel diseases reported that they had scheduled an appointment with a health care provider online, and 21.6% reported having used a computer to communicate with a health provider by email. We found that women who were self-regulating their care were more likely to look up health information online than others. Both middle-aged and older adults with inflammatory bowel diseases who were unsatisfied with their current health care were less likely to look up health information online. Frequent internet users who were worried about medical costs were more likely to look up health information online. Similarly, the results from our statistical models suggest that individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases who were frequent internet users were more likely to use the internet for specific health-related tasks. Additionally, women with inflammatory bowel diseases who reported being married were less likely to use the internet for specific health-related tasks. CONCLUSIONS For those with inflammatory bowel diseases, there are additional socioeconomic and behavioral factors that impact the use of the internet for health information and health-related tasks. Future research should evaluate how these factors moderate the use of the internet and identify how online resources can support clinical populations in ways that improve access to information, support health self-management, and subsequently improve health outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uchenna Nwokeji ◽  
Erin M. Spaulding ◽  
Rongzi Shan ◽  
Ruth-Alma Turkson-Ocran ◽  
Diana Baptiste ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Health-Information Technologies (HIT) have recently emerged as a viable intervention to mitigate the burden of ASCVD. At least 60% of United States (US) adults report searching the internet for health information; however, previous research has not examined the prevalence of general technology or HIT use between adults with and without ASCVD. In addition, social determinants in HIT use among adults with ASCVD are not well understood. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence and social determinants of HIT use among U.S. adults with vs without self-reported ASCVD. METHODS We pooled cross-sectional data from the 2011-2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to examine general technology and HIT use between adults aged ≥18 years with and without self-reported ASCVD (coronary heart disease and/or stroke). General technology use was defined as mobile phone ownership, Internet use, and computer use. HIT use was defined as looking up health information on the Internet, filling a prescription online, scheduling a medical appointment on the Internet, communicating with a healthcare provider by email, or using online group chats to learn about health topics. We evaluated sociodemographic differences in HIT use among respondents using Poisson regression. Analyses were weighted according to NHIS standards. RESULTS A total sample of N=256,534 individuals were included, 2,194 (0.9%) reported prior ASCVD. Among adults with prior ASCVD, the mean (±SD) age was 70.6 (11.5) years, and 47% were female. General technology use differed between participants with and without prior ASCVD, with 36% (657/1,826) and 76% (162,500/213,816) indicating internet usage and 25% (394/1,575) and 61% (112,580/184,557) indicating using a computer every day, respectively. Similarly, adults with ASCVD were less likely to use HIT use than those without ASCVD (25% vs. 51%, p<0.001). Among adults with prior ASCVD, social determinants that were associated with HIT use included younger age, higher education, higher income, being employed, and being married. CONCLUSIONS HIT use was low among adults with a history of ASCVD, which may represent a barrier to delivering care via emerging HIT. Given the associations with social determinants such as income, education and employment, targeted strategies and policies are needed to eliminate barriers to impact HIT usage. CLINICALTRIAL N/A


Author(s):  
Kleopatra Alamantariotou

Recent statistics show that the World Wide Web has now grown to over 100 million sites: a phenomenal expansion in only 15 years (Mulligan 2007). It has been estimated that there are 100,000 sites offering health related information (Wilson 2002). As the amount of health information increases, the public find it increasingly difficult to decide what to accept and what to reject (Burgess 2007). Searching for information on the internet is both deceptively easy and the same time frustratingly difficult (Kiley 2002). The challenge for consumers is to find high quality, relevant information as quickly as possible. There has been ongoing debate about the quality of information aimed at patients and the general public and opinions differ on how it can be improved (Stepperd 1999). The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of the different perspectives on information quality and to review the main criteria for assessing the quality of health information on the internet. Pointers are provided to enable both clinicians and patients find high quality information sources. An understanding of these issues should help health professionals and patients to make effective use of the internet.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriella Velonias ◽  
Grace Conway ◽  
Elizabeth Andrews ◽  
John J. Garber ◽  
Hamed Khalili ◽  
...  

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