Laura Nölke|M Mensing|Alexander Krämer|Claudia Hornberg
Sociodemographic and health-(care-)related characteristics of online health information seekers: a cross-sectional German study
Bielefeld University|Bielefeld University|Bielefeld University
although increasing dissemination use healthrelated information internet potential empower citizens patients several studies detected disparities use online health information due several factors far studies examined impact socioeconomic status ses health information seeking internet study designed identify sociodemographic healthcarerelated differences users nonusers health information gleaned internet aim detecting hardtoreach target groupsthis study analyzed data nrw health survey lzgnrw 2011 n 2000 conducted north rhinewestphalia germany via telephone interviews logistic regression analysis used examine determinants online health information seeking behavior68 internet users refer internet healthrelated purposes independent variables tested ses proved exert strongest influence searching internet health information final multivariate regression model shows people middle 22 95 ci 1632 upper 40 95 ci 2762 social classes likely seek health information internet lower class also women likely look health information internet men 15 95 ci 1121 individuals migration background less likely conduct health searches internet 06 95 ci 0408 married people individuals stable relationship search internet often health information singles 19 95 ci 1229 also heavy use healthcare services compared nonuse associated higher likelihood using internet healthrelated matters 17 95 ci 1225in order achieve equity health healthrelated internet use socially deprived promoted measures increase level ehealth literacy furthermore longitudinal studies needed order gain reliable dataresults determinants healthrelated internet use