Christina Pollard|Claire Elizabeth Pulker|Xingqiong Meng|Deborah A. Kerr|Scott Jordan
Who Uses the Internet as a Source of Nutrition and Dietary Information? An Australian Population Perspective
Government of Western Australia Department of Health|Curtin University|Curtin University|Flinders University|Curtin University|Curtin University
internet contains plethora nutrition information health organizations increasingly using internet deliver populationwide health information interventions effective interventions identify target population needs however little known use internet source nutrition informationthe aim assess change prevalence demographic characteristics western australian adults accessing internet source nutrition information identify specific information needsdata pooled western australian department healths 3yearly nutrition monitoring survey series telephone survey 1995 2012 7044 participants aged 18 64 years outcome variables main sources nutrition information used last year yesno responses 4 suggestions would make easier eat healthy diet sociodemographic variables collectedthe proportion respondents using internet nutrition information increased 1 19952001 91 2004 337 2012 compared 2004 logistic regression showed odds using internet information increased significantly 2009 284 95 ci 207388 2012 520 95 ci 386702 p001 respondents using internet source likely female 130 95 ci 105160 p02 live metropolitan area 126 95 ci 103154 p03 born countries australiaukireland 141 95 ci 107185 p02 educated university 246 95 ci 177342 p001 less likely older 5564 years 038 95 ci 025057 p001 majority respondents agreed following information would assist make healthier choices ways prepare healthy foods 720 95 ci 707733 quicker ways prepare healthy foods 790 95 ci 778801 choose healthy foods 688 95 ci 675701 knowing cooking 547 95 ci 533561 using internet nutrition information likely nonusers want know quicker ways prepare healthy foods 830 vs 781 p005 information choosing healthy foods 763 vs 673 p001use internet main source nutrition information grown rapidly since 2004 onethird western australian adults reported using internet purpose 2012 information preparing healthy foods ideas quicker ways choosing ingredients knowing cooking would make easier eat healthy diet internet users emphasis quicker ways choosing ingredients finding implications policy makers practitioners suggest traditional health promotion tactics continue used reach broader population