Title
Internet health information seeking is a team sport: analysis of the Pew Internet Survey
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine; Office of Community Programs; Department of Quantitative Health Sciences
Publication Date
2013-3
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Information Services; Internet; Sports
Disciplines
Health Communication | Health Information Technology | Health Services Research | Public Health
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies examining characteristics of Internet health information seekers do not distinguish between those who only seek for themselves, and surrogate seekers who look for health information for family or friends. Identifying the unique characteristics of surrogate seekers would help in developing Internet interventions that better support these information seekers.
OBJECTIVE: To assess differences between self seekers versus those that act also as surrogate seekers.
METHODS: We analyzed data from the cross-sectional Pew Internet and American Life Project November/December 2008 health survey. Our dependent variable was self-report of type of health information seeking (surrogate versus self seeking). Independent variables included demographics, health status, and caregiving. After bivariate comparisons, we then developed multivariable models using logistic regression to assess characteristics associated with surrogate seeking.
RESULTS: Out of 1250 respondents who reported seeking health information online, 56% (N=705) reported being surrogate seekers. In multivariable models, compared with those who sought information for themselves only, surrogate seekers were more likely both married and a parent (OR=1.57, CI=1.08, 2.28), having good (OR=2.05, CI=1.34, 3.12) or excellent (OR=2.72, CI=1.70, 4.33) health status, being caregiver of an adult relative (OR=1.76, CI=1.34, 2.30), having someone close with a serious medical condition (OR=1.62, CI=1.21, 2.17) and having someone close to them facing a chronic illness (OR=1.55, CI=1.17, 2.04).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence that information needs of surrogate seekers are not being met, specifically of caregivers. Additional research is needed to develop new functions that support surrogate seekers.
Keywords
UMCCTS funding
DOI of Published Version
10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2012.09.008
Source
Int J Med Inform. 2013 Mar;82(3):193-200. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2012.09.008. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
International journal of medical informatics
PubMed ID
23149121
Related Resources
Repository Citation
Sadasivam, Rajani S.; Sotir, Mark J.; Kinney, Rebecca L.; Lemon, Stephenie C.; Shimada, Stephanie L.; Allison, Jeroan J.; and Houston, Thomas K., "Internet health information seeking is a team sport: analysis of the Pew Internet Survey" (2013). Population and Quantitative Health Sciences Publications. 1104.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/qhs_pp/1104