Kenneth Lee|Kreshnik Hoti|Jeffrey Hughes|Lynne Emmerton
Consumer Use of “Dr Google”: A Survey on Health Information-Seeking Behaviors and Navigational Needs
Curtin University|Curtin University|Curtin University|Curtin University
internet provides platform access health information support selfmanagement consumers chronic health conditions despite recognized barriers accessing webbased health information lack research quantitatively exploring whether consumers report difficulty finding desired health information internet whether consumers would like assistance ie navigational needs understanding navigational needs provide basis interventions guiding consumers quality webbased health resourceswe aimed 1 estimate proportion consumers navigational needs among seekers webbased health information chronic health conditions 2 describe webbased health informationseeking behaviors level patient activation level ehealth literacy among consumers navigational needs 3 explore variables predicting navigational needsa questionnaire developed based findings qualitative study webbased health informationseeking behaviors navigational needs questionnaire also incorporated ehealth literacy scale eheals measure selfperceived ehealth literacy pam13 measure patient activation target population consumers webbased health information chronic health conditions surveyed sample 400 australian adults recruitment coordinated qualtrics sample size required estimate proportion consumers identified navigational needs precision 49 either side true population value 95 confidence subsample invited retake survey 2 weeks assess testretest reliability eheals pam13of 514 individuals met eligibility criteria 400 778 completed questionnaire 43 participants completed retest approximately half 513 95 ci 464562 population identified navigational needs participants navigational needs appeared look types health information internet greater variety information sources compared participants without navigational needs however participants navigational needs significantly less likely high levels ehealth literacy adjusted odds ratio083 95 ci 078089 p001 age also significant predictor p02approximately half population consumers webbased health information chronic health conditions would benefit support finding health information internet despite popularity internet source health information work recommended maximize potential tool assist selfmanagement consumers chronic health conditions