Comparing Older and Younger Adults Perceptions of Voice and Text-based Search for Consumer Health Information Tasks

The increased prevalence of voice search presents opportunities to address consumer challenges accessing online health information. However, it is essential to understand how users' perceptions of voice affect their search processes for health information, concerns, and different scenarios for using voice for health information tasks. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 younger (18-25) and older (60-64) adult participants to understand and compare their perceptions of using voice and text-based search for non-health-related and health-related tasks. While most participants preferred traditional text search, younger adults were not inclined to use voice search for health information due to concerns about privacy, credibility, and perceived efficiency in filtering results. Older adults found voice search potentially beneficial for reducing manual query generation burdens; however, some were unsure of how to use the technology effectively. We provide a set of considerations to address concerns about voice search for health information tasks in the future.