The Research On Patients’ Health Information Seeking Behavior In The Internet Environment

With the increasingly raising consumer’s health awareness and widespread applicationof the health information on the internet, the research on consumer’s health informationseeking behavior in the internet environment has increasingly become a hot research topic inforeign countries. It makes realistic significance in promoting health informationconsumer’s health management, health decision-making and the communication betweenphysicians and patient. Although the phenomenon that health information consumersespeically the patients obtain health information through the internet is very common in ourcountry, a few systematic theory and practice researches on patients’ health informationseeking behavior have been reported. It makes government and health educationorganizations lack necessary basis and support to provide health information services forpublic or patients. Therefore it is imperative to carry out the research of patient’s healthinformation seeking behavior in the internet environment.[Purpose]By investigating the patient’s health information seeking behavior in the internetenvironment in typical areas, it can provide the basis and reference for health policy-makersto formulate relevant policies or measures and promote health education institutions to carryout health education and provide health information services on the internet to improve theawareness and ability of patients in accessing and using the health information on theinternet.[Train of thoughts and Methods]Firstly, systematically sort out the theory and practice researches on health informationseeking behavior at home and abroad by documentary research method, then carry out ainvestigation on the basic situation of patient’s health information seeking behavior in atypical area based on self-designed questionnaire, and through a non-structured interviewto learn about the major obstacles and its factors in accessing and using the healthinformation on the internet for the seekers. Finaly, make some recommendations or takesome measures to promote the patient’s health information services on the internet.[Results] 1. On the side of basic demographic characteristics.The proportion of internet seekers in females is slightly higher than in males; the21-35age group has the highest proportion of internet seekers while the proportion of internetseekers in51-64age group is the lowest; In higher education degree respondents,theproportion of internet seekers higher; Intelligence-intensive occupations seekers has a higherproportion of internet seekers; In higher income respondents,the proportion of internetseekers is higher. The proportion of internet seekers whose physical condition is―occasionally uncomfortable‖is the lowest while the seekers who―have some specificdisease for a long period‖has the highest proportion of internet seekers;and the proportionof internet seekers in respondents who sometimes or occasionally goes to see a doctor ishigher than who often goes to see a doctor.2. The present situation of patient’s HISB in the internet environment.The present situation for the internet seekers:①the willingness aspect, although90.5%internet seekers are willing to seek health information through the internet,52.8%of themdon’t know some authoritative health websites;②the obtaining way aspect, Comprehensiveportal health channel is the most available obtaining way for most internet seekers whileonly a few seekers use the way of online health consultation to obtain health information,the type of information on diseases is the most sought type for most internet seekers(80.5%);③the information quality aspect,77%internet seekers often pay attention to the reliabilityof the source of health information, the quality of health information on the internet needs tobe improved;④the difficulties aspect,―the relevant results is too many to be screened "isthe major difficulity for most internet seekers(70.6%).The present situation for the non-internet seekers:60.5%non-internet seekers still existthe seeking awareness of health information through the internet, but for getting used todirectly consult a doctor, not having the internet access at home, not beening able to useinternet and other reasons, they don’t seek health information on the internet.60.1%non-internet seekers are willing to seek health information through the internet in the futureif the conditions are complete.[Conclusions] 1.The “digital divide” issues exists among patientsThere are disparities in basic demographic characteristics between internet seekersgroups and non-internet seekers groups, especially in age, income and education degree, thedisparities is significant. In internet seekers group, the proportion of high income level,higher education, good physical condition respndents is higher than the proportion innon-internet seekers, the "digital divide" exists among health information consumers. In thehealth information services field, there are unfairness problem in accessing healthinformation and differences in the side of evaluationing skills and using efficiency amongthe patients, the government and other relevant organizations or agencies should makerelevant polices and take some measures to solve the social problem.2. Patients have willingness and barriers to access to health information on the internet(1) For the internet seekers. The vast majority of internet seekers are willing to obtainhealth information through the internet, but most of them do not know reliable healthwebsites, and lack of essential searching, screening and evaluation skills.(2) For non-internet seekers. Although most of the non-internet seekers are willing toseek health information on the internet, they do not do this for not having internet access,not being able to use the internet or worrying about the quality of health information on theinternet, government and other organizations should pay attention to the non-internetseekers’ need for health information on the internet.3. Free and authority public health websites are urgent to be developed and spreadThe majority of health information consumers refusd the commercialized healthwebsites and expect to obtain high-quality public health information resources and serviceson the internet, government and other non-profit organizations should pay attention to thedevelopment and propaganda of free and authority public health websites...