Predicting Internet Use as a Source of Health Information: A “Language Divide” Among the Hispanic Population in the United States

Abstract

AbstractSpurred by the rapid diffusion of information technology and advances in e‐Health initiatives, the Internet is increasingly viewed as an important tool for health promotion and health education as well as a platform for the delivery of public health interventions. The Internet also holds promise in eliminating health disparities through increased access to health information. Using the Pew 2007 Hispanic Healthcare Survey, we examined the factors that are associated with each of the four media channels (Internet, radio, TV, and print media) as a source of health information among 4,013 Hispanic adults. The most significant predictor of health information‐seeking behavior on the Internet was English proficiency. Policy implications include the need to address both the “digital divide” and the “language divide” by increasing Internet access, improving e‐Health literacy, and creating high quality and culturally tailored websites in Spanish for Hispanic adults who have low levels of English proficiency and education.