Digital inequalities in health information seeking behaviors and experiences in the age of web 2.0: A population-based study in Hong Kong.
<h4>Background</h4>Inequalities in health information seeking behaviors (HISBs) using mass media and internet websites (web 1.0) are well documented. Little is known about web 2.0 such as social networking sites (SNS) and instant messaging (IM) and experiences of HISBs.<h4>Methods&...
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doaj-6f12469290614272a74a9e226dde9c5a2021-04-10T04:30:27ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01163e024940010.1371/journal.pone.0249400Digital inequalities in health information seeking behaviors and experiences in the age of web 2.0: A population-based study in Hong Kong.Ningyuan GuoZiqiu GuoShengzhi ZhaoSai Yin HoDaniel Yee Tak FongAgnes Yuen Kwan LaiSophia Siu-Chee ChanMan Ping WangTai Hing Lam<h4>Background</h4>Inequalities in health information seeking behaviors (HISBs) using mass media and internet websites (web 1.0) are well documented. Little is known about web 2.0 such as social networking sites (SNS) and instant messaging (IM) and experiences of HISBs.<h4>Methods</h4>We surveyed representative Hong Kong Chinese adults (N = 10143, 54.9% female; 72.3% aged 25-64 years) on frequency of HISBs using traditional sources, internet websites, SNS (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), and IM (e.g., WhatsApp, WeChat) and experiences measured using Information Seeking Experience Scale. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for HISBs and experiences by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were yielded using multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance estimators. aPRs for experiences by HISBs using internet websites, SNS, and IM adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were also yielded.<h4>Results</h4>Being female, higher educational attainment, not smoking, and being physically active were associated with HISBs using any source (all P<0.05). Older age had decreased aPRs for HISBs using traditional sources (P for trend = 0.03), internet websites (P for trend<0.001), and SNS (P for trend<0.001) but not for IM (aged 45-64 years: aPR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.07, 2.03). Lower educational attainment and income were associated with negative experiences including feelings of effort and difficulties in understanding the information (all P for trend<0.05). Older age had increased aPRs for difficulties in understanding the information (P for trend = 0.003). Compared with internet websites, HISBs using IM was associated with feelings of frustration (aPR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.08, 1.79), difficulties in understanding the information (aPR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.12, 1.65), and quality concern (aPR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.08, 1.32).<h4>Conclusions</h4>We identified correlates of web-based health information seeking and experiences in Hong Kong Chinese adults. Providing greater access to and improved information environment of web 2.0 to the target groups may help address digital inequalities.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249400 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Ningyuan Guo Ziqiu Guo Shengzhi Zhao Sai Yin Ho Daniel Yee Tak Fong Agnes Yuen Kwan Lai Sophia Siu-Chee Chan Man Ping Wang Tai Hing Lam |
spellingShingle |
Ningyuan Guo Ziqiu Guo Shengzhi Zhao Sai Yin Ho Daniel Yee Tak Fong Agnes Yuen Kwan Lai Sophia Siu-Chee Chan Man Ping Wang Tai Hing Lam Digital inequalities in health information seeking behaviors and experiences in the age of web 2.0: A population-based study in Hong Kong. PLoS ONE |
author_facet |
Ningyuan Guo Ziqiu Guo Shengzhi Zhao Sai Yin Ho Daniel Yee Tak Fong Agnes Yuen Kwan Lai Sophia Siu-Chee Chan Man Ping Wang Tai Hing Lam |
author_sort |
Ningyuan Guo |
title |
Digital inequalities in health information seeking behaviors and experiences in the age of web 2.0: A population-based study in Hong Kong. |
title_short |
Digital inequalities in health information seeking behaviors and experiences in the age of web 2.0: A population-based study in Hong Kong. |
title_full |
Digital inequalities in health information seeking behaviors and experiences in the age of web 2.0: A population-based study in Hong Kong. |
title_fullStr |
Digital inequalities in health information seeking behaviors and experiences in the age of web 2.0: A population-based study in Hong Kong. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Digital inequalities in health information seeking behaviors and experiences in the age of web 2.0: A population-based study in Hong Kong. |
title_sort |
digital inequalities in health information seeking behaviors and experiences in the age of web 2.0: a population-based study in hong kong. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
series |
PLoS ONE |
issn |
1932-6203 |
publishDate |
2021-01-01 |
description |
<h4>Background</h4>Inequalities in health information seeking behaviors (HISBs) using mass media and internet websites (web 1.0) are well documented. Little is known about web 2.0 such as social networking sites (SNS) and instant messaging (IM) and experiences of HISBs.<h4>Methods</h4>We surveyed representative Hong Kong Chinese adults (N = 10143, 54.9% female; 72.3% aged 25-64 years) on frequency of HISBs using traditional sources, internet websites, SNS (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), and IM (e.g., WhatsApp, WeChat) and experiences measured using Information Seeking Experience Scale. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for HISBs and experiences by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were yielded using multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance estimators. aPRs for experiences by HISBs using internet websites, SNS, and IM adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were also yielded.<h4>Results</h4>Being female, higher educational attainment, not smoking, and being physically active were associated with HISBs using any source (all P<0.05). Older age had decreased aPRs for HISBs using traditional sources (P for trend = 0.03), internet websites (P for trend<0.001), and SNS (P for trend<0.001) but not for IM (aged 45-64 years: aPR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.07, 2.03). Lower educational attainment and income were associated with negative experiences including feelings of effort and difficulties in understanding the information (all P for trend<0.05). Older age had increased aPRs for difficulties in understanding the information (P for trend = 0.003). Compared with internet websites, HISBs using IM was associated with feelings of frustration (aPR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.08, 1.79), difficulties in understanding the information (aPR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.12, 1.65), and quality concern (aPR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.08, 1.32).<h4>Conclusions</h4>We identified correlates of web-based health information seeking and experiences in Hong Kong Chinese adults. Providing greater access to and improved information environment of web 2.0 to the target groups may help address digital inequalities. |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0249400 |
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