Michael Stellefson|Jonathan J. Shuster|Beth H. Chaney|Samantha R. Paige|Julia M. Alber|J. Don Chaney|P. S. Sriram
Web-based Health Information Seeking and eHealth Literacy among Patients Living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
East Carolina University|University of Florida|East Carolina University|Florida Department of Health|University of Florida|California Polytechnic State University|East Carolina University|University of Florida
many people living chronic obstructive pulmonary disease copd low general health literacy however little information available patients ehealth literacy ability seek find understand appraise online health information apply knowledge address solve diseaserelated health concerns nationally representative sample patients registered copd foundations national research registry n 1270 invited complete webbased survey assess sociodemographic age gender marital status education health status generic lungspecific healthrelated quality life sociocognitive social support selfefficacy copd knowledge predictors ehealth literacy measured using 8item ehealth literacy scale eheals 50 respondents n 176 female n 89 mean age 6619 sd 947 overall participants reported moderate levels ehealth literacy 70 feeling confident ability find helpful health resources internet however respondents much less confident ability distinguish high lowquality sources webbased health information severe versus less severe copd 415 lower lungspecific healthrelated quality life 019 greater copd knowledge 062 significantly associated higher ehealth literacy higher copd knowledge also significantly associated greater knowledge 024 p 001 use 024 p 001 webbased health resources findings emphasize importance integrating skillbuilding activities comprehensive patient education programs enable patients severe cases copd identify highquality sources webbased health information additional research needed understand new social technologies used help medically underserved copd patients benefit webbased selfmanagement support resources