Navigating digital health: Development and validation of the online health information seeking scale (OHISS)

The increasing reliance on online platforms for health information establishes the need to understand people's engagement and attitude towards Online Health Information Seeking (OHIS). The current study aims to develop and validate a comprehensive multidimensional Online Health Information Seeking Scale (OHISS). Items were generated using both inductive and deductive approaches, followed by multiple content and face validity screenings that incorporated qualitative and quantitative evaluations. Data were collected in two stages: Study 1 (N=364) for item development and identifying the preliminary factor structure using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Study 2 (N=236) for validating the obtained factor structure using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Following the descriptive analysis, EFA using Promax rotation yielded a 20-item scale comprising three dimensions: Perceived Benefits and Engagement (11 items), Perceived Risks (6 items), and Social Influences on OHIS (3 items), collectively accounting for 51.1% of the total variance. This three-factor structure was subsequently confirmed through CFA with DWLS estimator (χ²(167)=271.55, χ²/df=1.63, CFI=0.986, TLI=0.984, RMSEA=0.052, SRMR=0.071, and GFI=0.978). The scale has good internal consistency as demonstrated by Cronbach's alpha (α=.833), McDonald's omega (⍵=.824), Spearman brown split-half (r_xx=.886), Guttman's lambda (λ=.885) and test-retest (ICC_2,1=.728) coefficient. Construct validity was supported by significant correlations with the Attitude towards Online Health Information and Information-Seeking subscales, as well as Average Variance explained, Composite Reliability, and the Heterotrait-Monotrait Ratio. The scale demonstrated measurement invariance across male and female groups. The results conclude that the OHISS is a psychometrically standardized measure. The OHISS may be used by health practitioners to assess individuals' attitudes toward online health information, identify barriers in accessing digital health content, and support both health-related communication and research.