The Factors Associated With Confidence in Using the Internet to Access Health Information: Cross-sectional Data...

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Health Communication
• Digital Health Literacy

Background:

• Confidence in accessing health information is crucial for understanding healthcare access trends.
• Vulnerable populations (older, less educated, low-income) often have the lowest access to health information.
• Demographic factors influencing confidence in health information access require further research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine demographic factors associated with confidence in using the internet for health information access among US adults.
• To identify disparities in digital health information access based on individual characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of secondary data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5, Cycle 3 (2019).
• Ordinal regression analysis stratified by internet use to assess associations between demographics and confidence levels.
• Sample size of 5374 adults aged 18 and older in the United States.

Main Results:

• High school graduates, non-Hispanic Asian, male, and lower-income (US $20,000-$35,000) participants reported significantly lower confidence in accessing internet health information compared to reference groups.
• Individuals with health insurance demonstrated significantly higher confidence in obtaining health information online.
• Confidence was also associated with the primary health information source and healthcare provider visit frequency.

Conclusions:

• Individual demographics significantly influence confidence in accessing online health information.
• Understanding these demographic associations is vital for improving health education and addressing disparities in access.
• Further research can inform strategies to enhance health information access for vulnerable populations.