Abstract
The Internet and social media are crucial platforms for health information. Factors such as the efficiency of online health information, the outcomes of seeking online health information and the awareness of reliable sources have become increasingly important for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine differences between elderly individuals’ income above and below the average monthly wage in relation to their online health information efficiency and the outcomes of seeking online health information; to evaluate types of online information sources with online health information efficiency and the outcomes of seeking online health information; and to explore online health information efficiency as a mediator between health status and awareness of online sources. A cross-sectional study design was conducted with 336 elderly participants age 65 or older. The participants volunteered to complete a questionnaire. No differences were found between the two groups regarding efficiency in retrieving health information from official online health sites and Google. Perceived efficiency mediated health status and awareness of online sources. In these challenging times, it is important to provide a tailor-made education strategy plan for reliable sources of online health information for the elderly, in order to enhance their technology safety skills. It is also important to explore other mediating variables between health status and awareness of online sources.
Highlights
Published: 31 July 2021The Internet and social media platforms are crucial venues for health information [1,2], which in this study refers to all aspects of personal health, including physical and mental health handled in either physical or digital form [3]
This study has three aims: first, to examine differences between elderly individuals who earn above average monthly wage and those who earn below average monthly wage in relation to their online health information efficiency and the outcomes of seeking online health information during the COVID-19 pandemic; second, to evaluate types of online information sources used by the elderly, their perception of online health information efficiency and the outcomes of seeking health information during the COVID-19 pandemic; and third, to explore a model of online health information efficiency as a mediator between health status and awareness of online sources during the COVID-19 pandemic
The study strived to (a) examine differences between elderly individuals’ income above and below the average monthly wage in relation to their online health information efficiency and the outcomes of seeking online health information during the COVID-19 pandemic period; (b) evaluate types of online information sources used by the elderly, their perception of online health information efficiency and the outcomes of seeking online health information; and (c) explore online health information efficiency as a mediator between health status and awareness of online sources
Summary
The Internet and social media platforms are crucial venues for health information [1,2], which in this study refers to all aspects of personal health, including physical and mental health handled in either physical or digital form [3]. The Internet and social media have become common channels for people to search for information about health, nutrition and everyday life [2,4,5]. EHealth literacy is the ability of individuals to use information and communication technologies such as the Internet to enhance health care [6]. Online health information, which in this study refers to all aspects of health including physical and mental health handled in online form [3], can relate to other factors, such as the individual’s income.
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