Émilie Renahy|Isabelle Parizot|Pierre Chauvin
Health information seeking on the Internet: a double divide? Results from a representative survey in the Paris metropolitan area, France, 2005–2006
Inserm|Inserm|Inserm
internet major source information professionals general public especially field health however despite everincreasing connection rates digital divide persists industrialised countries objective study assess determinants involved 1 internet access 2 using using internet obtain health information crosssectional survey representative random sample conducted paris metropolitan area france fall 2005 n 3023 close 70 adult population internet access 49 internet users previously searched medical information economic social disparities observed online health information seeking reinforced economic social disparities internet access hence double divide individuals reported recent health problem less likely internet access odds ratio 072 95 confidence interval ci 053098 internet access likely search health information 144 95 ci 111187 french context universal health insurance access internet varies according social socioeconomic status health status use health information seeking varies also health beliefs health insurance coverage healthcare utilisation certain economic social inequalities seem impact cumulatively internet access use internet health information seeking obvious internet special information tool primary prevention people furthest removed health concerns however internet appears useful complement secondary prevention especially better understanding health problems enhancing therapeutic compliance