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Social and Demographic Patterns of Health-Related Internet Use Among Adults in the United States: A Secondary Data Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey

Author

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  • Rose Calixte

    (Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, CUNY School of Medicine, New York, NY 10031, USA)

  • Argelis Rivera

    (Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10027, USA)

  • Olutobi Oridota

    (Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, CUNY School of Medicine, New York, NY 10031, USA)

  • William Beauchamp

    (Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, CUNY School of Medicine, New York, NY 10031, USA)

  • Marlene Camacho-Rivera

    (Department of Community Health Sciences, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA)

Abstract

National surveys of U.S. adults have observed significant increases in health-related internet use (HRIU), but there are documented disparities. The study aims to identify social and demographic patterns of health-related internet use among U.S. adults. Using data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 4 cycle 3 and HINTS 5 cycle 1, we examined HRIU across healthcare, health information seeking, and participation on social media. Primary predictors were gender, race/ethnicity, age, education, income, and nativity with adjustments for smoking and survey year. We used multivariable logistic regression with survey weights to identify independent predictors of HRIU. Of the 4817 respondents, 43% had used the internet to find a doctor; 80% had looked online for health information. Only 20% had used social media for a health issue; 7% participated in an online health support group. In multivariable models, older and low SES participants were significantly less likely to use the internet to look for a provider, use the internet to look for health information for themselves or someone else, and less likely to use social media for health issues. Use of the internet for health-related purposes is vast but varies significantly by demographics and intended use.

Suggested Citation

  • Rose Calixte & Argelis Rivera & Olutobi Oridota & William Beauchamp & Marlene Camacho-Rivera, 2020. "Social and Demographic Patterns of Health-Related Internet Use Among Adults in the United States: A Secondary Data Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6856-:d:416142
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stephanie Cardona & Rose Calixte & Argelis Rivera & Jessica Yasmine Islam & Denise Christina Vidot & Marlene Camacho-Rivera, 2021. "Perceptions and Patterns of Cigarette and E-Cigarette Use among Hispanics: A Heterogeneity Analysis of the 2017–2019 Health Information National Trends Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Mariusz Duplaga, 2022. "A Nationwide Natural Experiment of e-Health Implementation during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland: User Satisfaction and the Ease-of-Use of Remote Physician’s Visits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.
    3. Rose Calixte & Sumaiya Islam & Zainab Toteh Osakwe & Argelis Rivera & Marlene Camacho-Rivera, 2021. "Pattern of Use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) among the Chronically Ill: A Health Information National Trend Survey (HINTS) Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-13, July.
    4. Yi-Hui Lee & Lian-Hua Huang & Su-Hui Chen & Jung-Hua Shao & Chyong-Huey Lai & Nan-Ping Yang, 2021. "Effects of Mobile Application Program (App)-Assisted Health Education on Preventive Behaviors and Cancer Literacy among Women with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-16, November.

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