The Association Between Internet Use and Co-occurring Health Care Needs: Cross-Sectional Study in China

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Digital Health

Background:

• Health care needs are fundamental to service provision and resource allocation.
• Needs are influenced by socio-economic factors and evolve over time.
• Previous research has overlooked the complexity of co-occurring health needs and the impact of internet use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of co-occurring health care needs in China.
• To explore the relationship between internet use frequency and these needs.
• To analyze the mediating roles of physical exercise and health status.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the "Survey on Chinese Residents' Health Services Needs in the New Era" (n=12,513).
• Employed association rule learning to identify co-occurring needs.
• Applied generalized linear and path analysis models to examine internet use, mediating variables, and needs.

Main Results:

• 68.74% of residents reported 2 or more co-occurring health care needs.
• Frequent internet users showed a higher prevalence of co-occurring needs (β=.895, P<.001).
• Internet use positively impacted physical exercise and health status, but only improved health status negatively correlated with co-occurring needs (β=-.787, P<.001).

Conclusions:

• Health policies must address evolving, co-occurring health needs influenced by technology.
• Healthcare providers need to adapt services for complex patient requirements.
• Policymakers should align resource allocation and reforms with changing resident needs.