Use Of Internet For Health Information Research Articles

Correlation between habits of using online health information and e-health literacy in middle-aged and older Chinese adults

BackgroundAlong with increased online dependency of supplying and obtaining health knowledge, e-health literacy emerges as one of essential skills for people with chronic diseases. ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the current experience and challenges associated with online health information use behaviors and e-health literacy in middle-aged and older adults, and offer insights for improving e-health literacy level and developing tailored Internet-based health knowledge dissemination services. MethodsFrom June to September 2021, a questionnaire survey was administered to 1 061 middle-aged and older adults in Shanghai communities, using a multi-stage sampling method. The survey instruments included General Information Questionnaire and the Chinese version of the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). These tools helped measure participants' online health information use behavior and their e-health literacy levels. Multilinear stepwise regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between internet health information use habits, other potential influencing factors, and e-health literacy levels. ResultsOf the distributed questionnaires, 1,019 were returned, yielding a 96.04 % response rate. In terms of approaches accessing online health information, 40.33 % (411 participants) used health media platform accounts, 32.97 % (336 participants) used search engines, 24.93 % (254 participants) engaged with health management apps or mini programs, and a smaller number, 65 cases participated in online health group. Regarding information sources, a relatively small number of residents relied on medical institutions (38.96 %, 397 participants) and medical personnel (18.35 %, 187 participants). The average eHEALS score was 27.62 ± 8.57. Participants demonstrated limited awareness in using online health information to solve their health problems (item 2 of eHEALS, 3.36 ± 1.27) and in discerning reliable from unreliable health information on Internet (item 6 of eHEALS, 3.38 ± 1.23). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that e-health literacy was influenced by several factors, including age, coverage of both social and commercial medical insurances, the use of at least two online health information sources and search approaches, behaviors of forwarding and sharing online health information, and holding positive attitude of accepting online health information. ConclusionThe e-health literacy of these middle-aged and older adults is moderate and influenced by various factors, including online health information use behaviors. To help them make better use of online health information and improve their e-health literacy, the authors recommended to provide authoritative information integration and retrieval platform, to strengthen regulation and supervision of health information providers, to develop older people friendly health information online platforms, and to help middle aged and older adults to better use online health information by mobilizing the resources of communities, families, health associations, and medical and insurance institutions.

Comparison of eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) and Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI) in Assessing Electronic Health Literacy in Chinese Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Approach.

This study compared the reliability, construct validity, and respondents' preference of the Chinese version of 8-item eHEALS (C-eHEALS) and 21-item DHLI (C-DHLI) in assessing older adults' electronic health (eHealth) literacy using a mixed-methods approach. A web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 277 Chinese older adults from September to October 2021, and 15 respondents were subsequently interviewed to understand their preference of scale to use in practice. Results showed that the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of both scales were satisfactory. For the construct validity, the C-DHLI score showed stronger positive correlations with having Internet use for health information and higher educational attainments, occupational skill levels, self-rated Internet skills, and health literacy than the C-eHEALS score. In addition, younger age, higher household income, urban residence, and longer Internet use history were only positively correlated with C-DHLI score. Qualitative data suggested that most interviewees perceived the C-DHLI as more readable than C-eHEALS for its clear structure, specific description, short sentence length, and less semantic complexity. Findings revealed that both scales are reliable tools to measure eHealth literacy among Chinese older adults, and the C-DHLI seemed to be a more valid and favored instrument for the general Chinese older population based on the quantitative and qualitative results.

Predictive Factors for Online Health Information-Seeking Behavior among Adults in the Russian Federation.

The internet is fast becoming one of the key instruments for seeking health-related information. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with internet use for health information among adults in the Russian Federation and to identify factors that explain its variation. The data were collected from the online survey conducted in Russian Federation on Aug-Sep 2020. A bivariate chi-square test was used to identify factors for further analysis. The binomial logistic regression model was fitted to the data to determine the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Overall, 1319 adults' survey submissions were analyzed. The binomial regression model showed women (OR 1.507, 95% CI 1.152-1.972), those with higher education level (OR 2.688, 95% CI 1.380-5.234), avid Internet users (3-4 h per day OR 2.187, 95% CI 1.383-3.460; 5+ h per day OR 2.361, 95% CI 1.475-3.781) are more likely to seek the health information on the Internet. Older participants (35-49 yr OR .701, 95% CI .498-.988; 50+ yr OR .624, 95% CI .430-.907) and those who live in rural areas (OR .469, 95% CI .308-.712) are less likely to use the internet for health information. It is important to promote health information-seeking behavior among men, older, less educated individuals, and those who live in rural areas. The improvement of digital skills and infrastructure may engage those who experience difficulties accessing health information over the internet.

Internet utilization for health information and its associated factors among undergraduate university students in Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundAmong currently available technologies, only the Internet has the potential to deliver universal access to up-to-date health care information. This study aimed to assess the status of Internet utilization to access health information and its associated factors among university students in Ethiopia. MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 845 undergraduate students selected by Stratified multi-stage sampling from 19 randomly chosen departments of Addis Ababa University. A pretested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. The data were entered into EPI Info version 7 and exported to the SPSS version 23 for analysis. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between the study and outcome variables. ResultAlmost all 761 (98.8%) university students have used the Internet. Among these, the overall proportion of Internet use for health information was 59.1% (95% CI: 55.5–62.7). Respondents with good eHealth literacy (AOR = 1.656, 95% CI: (1.143, 2.397), student's field of study (AOR = 0.025, 95% CI: (0.007, 0.087), year of study (AOR = 1.609, 95% CI: (1.130, 2.290), and owning computer device (AOR = 2.314, 95% CI: (1.392, 3.844) were found to be significantly associated with utilization of Internet for health information. ConclusionThis study confirms that nearly two-thirds of undergraduate university students use the Internet to access health information. eHealth literacy, the field of study, year of study, and ownership of electronic devices were significant predictors for Internet use for accessing health information. As a result, it is recommended that university students in Ethiopia have access to electronic devices and that eHealth literacy be promoted to use the Internet as a source of health information effectively.

E-health information as a support of health information technology systems – patients attitudes

The use of e-health information is becoming a common practice among patients, and the decision to browse the Internet is related to attitudes towards online health information. How these attitudes are shaped depends on the impact of many variables. This author aims to verify a model describing the process of forming attitudes towards using the Internet as a source of health information. The acquisition of knowledge is significant and important support in health information technology from the viewpoint of the patient as well as the health care system.The results of primary research in the form of a face-to-face survey carried out with 300 patients show that health awareness, perceived health risk, Internet health information use efficacy, ease of use and usefulness and credibility of the Internet as a source of health information significantly shape patients' attitudes towards using e-health information. Confirmed motivations and attitudes of patients raise the level of awareness in the area of behaviour of system participants and the belief that the implementation of actions improving e-health competences of the population is a significant step towards better functioning decision support of health care systems.

Digital Health Information as Friend or Foe: The Question of (Mis)Trust Among Older Internet Users

Gathering health information is among the major motivations for getting online among older adults who want to be better prepared with knowledge to manage their health and personal care. Prior research also showed significant gender differences in health-related use of the Internet. This research examined the effect of Internet use for health information on (a) mistrust of physician, (b) empowerment, (c) self-care, and (d) worry and/or anxiety. The sample (N=710; Mean= 48.82, SD=16.43) was randomly drawn from a national probability-based online panel. We performed gender-stratified sub-sample analyses of older respondents (age ≥60, N= 194). Hierarchical linear regression analyses showed that there is a negative association between older age and feeling empowered because of using the internet for health information (β = -.23, p < .05) and a positive association between older age and mistrust of diagnosis and/or treatment of physician (β = .19, p < .05). Study respondents did not report better self-care as a result of obtaining information from the Internet (β = -.15, p > .05). Lastly, older adults reported less worry and/or anxiety because of information stumbled upon the Internet that may not be accurate (β = -.25, p < .05). Sub-sample analyses showed that there are gender differences. Particularly, older men reported greater mistrust (β = .32, p < .05), and less worry (β = -.44, p ≤ .01) while these associations were not significant among older women. Results call for examination of the synergy of age and gender in perceived benefits of health-related Internet use.

Health-related internet use among adolescents with uncontrolled persistent asthma

Objectives To describe internet use for health information among adolescents with uncontrolled persistent asthma, and to examine whether health-related internet use is associated with responsibility for home asthma management. Methods We analyzed baseline data from the School-Based Asthma Care for Teens (SB-ACT) Trial, which included adolescents (12–16 years) in an urban school district who had uncontrolled persistent asthma per caregiver report. We asked adolescents whether they had ever used the Internet to look for health or medical information (Y/N). Teens then described family responsibility for 9 asthma management tasks (e.g. full caregiver responsibility, shared responsibility, or full teen responsibility). We examined responsibility sum scores in addition to responsibility for individual management tasks. We used bivariate and multivariate analyses to compare health-related internet use with participant characteristics, teen-reported asthma symptoms, and management responsibility. Results We examined data for 425 adolescents (mean age 13.4 years). Almost half (45%) reported seeking health information on the Internet. In adjusted analyses, health-related internet use was strongly associated with teen responsibility (sum score and tasks relating to carrying and using medications); internet use was also more likely among teens who were older, female, or reported uncontrolled disease. Conclusions Adolescents with persistent asthma who share responsibility for home management or report uncontrolled disease are more likely to seek health information online. Future interventions to support teens who co-manage asthma should work to engage patients in both clinical and digital spaces, and ensure that all patients can access accurate, patient-centered asthma information when needed.

Dietary supplement usage during pregnancy and lactation: role of online social capital and health information-seeking behaviour

PurposeThe main objective of this study is to assess the applicability and robustness of the information motivation behavioural skills (IMB) model in determining dietary supplement usage of pregnant and breastfeeding women. More specifically, we examine the indirect effects of online social capital and internet use for health information on dietary supplement usage through self-efficacy and the moderating role of educational attainment.Design/methodology/approachData was collected from 415 pregnant and breastfeeding Italian women using a self-administered questionnaire. Hypotheses were tested using Hayes's (2013) PROCESS macro for SPSS.FindingsInternet use for health information is directly associated with dietary supplement usage. Online social capital and internet use for health information positively influence dietary supplement usage through self-efficacy. However, the results from moderated mediation analyses show that the mediation effects are moderated by educational attainment so that indirect relationships were stronger among women with a lower level of education than among those with a higher level of education.Practical implicationsDietary supplement marketers and public health agencies can develop and implement dietary supplement promotional materials and interventions by disseminating information through the internet and social media and by strengthening social ties on online networking sites.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in the use of the IMB model as a theoretical framework to examine the mediating role of self-efficacy and the moderating role of education in explaining the mechanism of how online social capital and internet use for health information influence dietary supplement usage.

Effect of Online Health Information Seeking on Anxiety in Hospitalized Pregnant Women: Cohort Study.

BackgroundThere are approximately 1,000,000 pregnant women at high risk for obstetric complications per year, more than half of whom require hospitalization.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the relation between online health information seeking and anxiety levels in a sample of hospitalized woman with pregnancy-related complications.MethodsA sample of 105 pregnant women hospitalized in northern Italy, all with an obstetric complication diagnosis, completed different questionnaires: Use of Internet Health-information (UIH) questionnaire about use of the internet, EuroQOL 5 dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire on quality of life, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire measuring general anxiety levels, and a questionnaire about critical events occurring during hospitalization.ResultsOverall, 98/105 (93.3%) of the women used the internet at home to obtain nonspecific information about health in general and 95/105 (90.5%) of the women used the internet to specifically search for information related to their obstetric disease. Online health information-seeking behavior substantially decreased the self-reported anxiety levels (P=.008).ConclusionsWeb browsing for health information was associated with anxiety reduction, suggesting that the internet can be a useful instrument in supporting professional intervention to control and possibly reduce discomfort and anxiety for women during complicated pregnancies.

Reasons Behind Preferences for Community-Based Continence Promotion.

This study aimed to understand the potential reach of continence promotion intervention formats among incontinent women. The Survey of the Health of Wisconsin conducts household interviews on a population-based sample. In 2016, 399 adult women were asked about incontinence and likelihood of participation in continence promotion via 3 formats: single lecture, interactive 3-session workshop, or online. Descriptive analyses compared women likely versus unlikely to participate in continence promotion. To understand format preferences, modified grounded theory was used to conduct and analyze telephone interviews. One hundred eighty-seven (76%) of 246 incontinent women reported being likely to attend continence promotion: 111 (45%) for a single lecture, 43 (17%) for an interactive 3-session workshop, and 156 (64%) for an online program. Obesity, older age, nonwhite race, prior health program participation, and Internet use for health information were associated with reported continence promotion participation. Cited advantages of a single lecture included convenience and ability to ask questions. A workshop offered accountability, hands-on learning, and opportunity to learn from others; online format offered privacy, convenience, and self-directed learning. Most incontinent women are willing to participate in continence promotion, especially online.

The role of Internet cancer information for older adults with cancer: Perspectives of older adults and healthcare professionals.

Older adults with cancer have unique information and supportive care needs. There is a growing body of literature regarding the use of Internet health information, but less is known about the use of the Internet for cancer information amongst older adults with cancer. This is a secondary analysis of qualitative data from a mixed-methods study of the use of cancer-related Internet information amongst adults with cancer. In the present study, we include transcripts from two samples: 34 interviews with adults over age 55 (n=17) with cancer, and interviews and focus groups with healthcare professionals (n=21). Data were analysed using thematic analysis with an interest in age-related themes. Our findings are grouped into three main themes: (a) independently augmenting healthcare services and supports; (b) supporting and situating information; and (c) mobilising family and support networks. Patients and healthcare providers described cancer-related Internet information as a beneficial resource to address gaps in information and supplement information from healthcare professionals from diagnosis and throughout treatment. Older adults reported using cancer-related Internet information to manage their cancer experience, although sometimes feeling technologically hesitant. However, healthcare professionals felt older adults were less likely than younger patients to seek cancer information from the Internet. The use of cancer-related Internet information is growing amongst older adults with cancer. Older adults mobilise technology uniquely. Healthcare professionals can support these efforts by being aware and through initiating dialogue about information preferences.

Filipino Nursing Students' eHealth Literacy and Criteria Used for Selection of Health Websites

Possessing eHealth literacy skills among students has been increasingly appreciated in nursing education. Despite eHealth literacy has been widely studied, little published research is available regarding Filipino nursing students’ eHealth literacy. This study aimed to determine the self-reported eHealth literacy of Filipino nursing students and the relative importance of the criteria they use when selecting health websites. A cross-sectional research design was used involving 66 conveniently chosen nursing students. Self-reported data were collected using adopted questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman’s rho. Findings revealed that nursing students had high eHealth literacy. The utility of information and accuracy of information were the top criteria students consider important when selecting health websites. There were no significant differences in the eHealth literacy of male and female and first-year and second-year nursing students. The extent of Internet use for health information, perceived usefulness of the Internet when making health decisions, and perceived importance to access health resources on the Internet were significantly correlated with eHealth literacy. To derive full benefit from online health information, nursing students’ literacy needs in the Web context and digital environment must be given attention.

Internet health information use by surrogate decision makers of patients admitted to the intensive care unit: a multicentre survey

Internet health information use by surrogate decision makers of patients admitted to the intensive care unit: a multicentre survey

Profiles of a Health Information-Seeking Population and the Current Digital Divide: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the 2015-2016 California Health Interview Survey.

BackgroundInternet use for health information is important, given the rise of electronic health (eHealth) that integrates technology into health care. Despite the perceived widespread use of the internet, a persistent “digital divide” exists in which many individuals have ready access to the internet and others do not. To date, most published reports have compared characteristics of internet users seeking health information vs nonusers. However, there is little understanding of the differences between internet users seeking health information online and users who do not seek such information online. Understanding these differences could enable targeted outreach for health interventions and promotion of eHealth technologies.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess population-level characteristics associated with different types of internet use, particularly for seeking online health information.MethodsThe 2015-2016 California Health Interview Survey datasets were used for this study. Internet use was classified as never used the internet (Never use), ever used the internet but not to search for health information in the last 12 months (Use not for health), and ever used the internet and have used it to search for health information in the last 12 months (Use for health). Weighted multinomial logistic regression was used to assess sociodemographic and health characteristics associated with types of internet use. Findings are reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs.ResultsAmong 42,087 participants (weighted sample of 29,236,426), 19% reported Never Use of the internet, 27.9% reported Use not for health, and 53.1% reported Use for health. Compared to Never Use individuals, Use for health individuals were more likely to be younger (OR: 0.1, 95% CI 0.1-0.2 for ≥60 years vs <60 years), female (OR: 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-1.9 compared to males), and non-Hispanic white (OR: 0.54, 95% CI 0.4-0.7 for Latinos and OR: 0.2, 95% CI 0.2-0.4 for African Americans) and have a higher socioeconomic status (>400% of Federal Poverty Guidelines; OR: 1.3, 95% CI 1.4-2.4). Overall, characteristics for the Use not for health and Use for health groups were similar, except for those with lower levels of education and respondents not having visited a physician in the last year. For these two characteristics, the Use not for health group was more similar to the Never Use group.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that a digital divide characterized by sociodemographic and health information exists across three types of users. Our results are in line with those of previous studies on the divide, specifically with regard to disparities in use and access related to age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Disparities in online health-seeking behavior may reflect existing disparities in health care access extending into a new era of health technology. These findings support the need for interventions to target internet access and health literacy among Never Use and Use not for health groups.

Use of Internet Health Information Among Students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: Internet is a resource used to deliver health information, and has the potential to provide nutrition education in particular for individuals with a good level of education. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of internet as a source for health information and analyzing the related factors for internet as a source for health information among students in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.&#x0D; &#x0D; METHODS: We recruited 164 high schools, undergraduate and postgraduate students living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered structured questionnaire to collect data on searching the internet for health information was used. It included frequency and timing of search, type of information, use of information in decision making, general health condition and socio-demographic characteristics. Differences between students who perceived and those who did not perceive improvement in health care after using internet health information were assessed using the chi-squared test.&#x0D; &#x0D; RESULTS: 92.7% of the students usually searched the internet for health information and 84.8% perceived internet health information as a help towards improving their health status. Students at higher educational levels talked significantly more often with their doctors regarding the health information they got from the internet (p = 0.014). We found significantly higher rates of perceived improvement in health among females (p &amp;lt;0.001), participants who trusted the health information they got from the internet (p &amp;lt;0.001), those who searched the internet for health information for themselves and other persons (p = 0.034), who searched for information on health care, physical fitness and nutrition and specific diseases (p = 0.005) and those who did it to increase their knowledge (p = 0.024).&#x0D; &#x0D; CONCLUSION &amp;amp; RECOMMENDATIONS: The majority of participants perceived the health information they got from the internet as a help towards improving their health status. Interventions should be developed to enhance the use of internet health information among males and high school students.

Investigating the Association Between Internet Health Information Use and Patient Willingness to Communicate with Health Care Providers

ABSTRACTCommunication between health professionals and patients is an intergroup phenomenon where the health professional has the most power and status. Over the past few decades, there has been a steady increase in the availability to patients of information about healthcare and specific diseases on the Internet. In this paper, we ask whether the use of Internet health information assists patients to manage their consultations with health professionals better and whether it alters the intergroup dynamic by providing a more equal status for patients. In this study 370 participants from Australia and Canada completed a survey that included a ‘willingness to communicate with health professionals’ scale. They also commented on their use and trust of Internet health information. Thematic analysis suggests that patients’ use of Internet health information serves as a broker between patients and their health provider in health consultations. We discuss the implications of these findings for health practitioners as they address how easier Internet access influences patient interactions with health professionals. We consider future research directions these finding provide in explaining communication behaviour in this context.

The image of a doctor in a doctor-patient relationship in the Internet era

The following paper deals with the issues of doctor’s image in the doctor-patient relationship in the Internet era and the influence of Internet on patient’s compliance. Both positive and negative standpoints have been discussed briefly, followed by a description of a research model proposed by Laugesen, Hassanein and Yufei (2015) applicable for this type of study. The study examines the impact of patients’ use of Internet health information on various elements of patient-doctor relation (including compliance) through a theoretical model based on principal-agent theory as well as the information asymmetry perspective. A pilot survey and interview study performed on one Polish doctor and a group of his patients, a specialist in Family Medicine has been described. The study carried out by three coworkers: Laugesen, Hassanein and Yufei (2015) revealed that patient-doctor concordance and perceived information asymmetry have relevant effects on patient’s compliance while patient-doctor concordance reveals a stronger relationship. The final conclusions were such that only doctor’s quality had a significant influence on the information asymmetry; the Internet health information gathered by a patient had no impact on perceived information asymmetry; the pilot study performed on the Polish physician confirms the theses presented in this paper but further investigations concerning the formerly discussed issues should be done.

Preferences of patients with inflammatory bowel disease for receiving specialized health services using technology: the role of Internet and other sources of medical information.

It is notable that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have insufficient knowledge about their disease and are willing to be more involved in their treatment. Nowadays medical information is easily available and health-related topics state the third most frequent reason for using the Internet. Therefore, patient's health-related self-awareness and willingness to take part in medical decisions have improved. The possibility of choice of specialized health services may have a positive effect on patient's satisfaction. The aim of the study was to characterize the extent of Internet use for health information among a representative sample of IBD patients and to examine the effects that Internet and other sources of information about specialized health services have on patients' choices of a doctor and hospital department. In total, 135 IBD patients admitted to the Department of General and Colorectal Surgery at Medical University of Lodz were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Only 123 fully completed questionnaires were included for analysis. The study group involved 68 women and 55 men. A total of 85.4% IBD patients used Internet in order to gather medical information about their disease. Age of those patients was significantly lower than of those patients who did not use Internet. The most reliable source of information about physicians was Internet. Opinions and recommendations gathered from the Internet have a notable influence on patients' preference of hospital department and attending physician. A majority of patients used Internet as a source of medical information related to IBD. Opinions obtained from the Internet seem to be the most reliable regarding attending physicians treating IBD patients.

Sociodemographic predictors of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV Vaccine Knowledge and Awareness among Americans Who Use the Internet as Their Primary Source of Health Information

We examined differences in HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge among individuals who use the Internet as their main source of health information versus those who do not. Data were obtained from the Health Information National Trends Survey Cycles 3 and 4 (N = 6862), a cross-sectional random-digit-dialed telephone survey of noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥18 years. Multivariate logistic regression models estimated correlates of HPV and HPV vaccine awareness and knowledge among both groups. Approximately 76% of respondents who use the Internet as their main source of health information and 56% of who do not, reported an awareness of HPV and the vaccine (p < .0001). In multivariate analyses, independent of Internet use for health information, females were significantly more likely to be aware of HPV and the vaccine than males. Among those who used the Internet as their primary information source, high school diploma holders were less likely to be aware of HPV and the vaccine, compared with college graduates. However, there was no educational difference among those who did not use the Internet. Overall, Internet users had a significantly increased knowledge and awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine compared with non-Internet users, however, both groups had gaps. Continued education and innovative information dissemination techniques are needed to improve HPV and HPV vaccine awareness among both individuals who use the Internet as their primary source of information and those who do not.

Older Adults' Internet Use for Health Information: Digital Divide by Race/Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status.

Building upon literature suggesting low Internet use among racial/ethnic minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, this study examined how race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES) influence the Internet use for health information, addressing both independent and interactive effects. Using data from 17,704 older adults in the California Health Interview Survey, logistic regression models were estimated with race/ethnicity (Whites, African Americans, Latinos, and Asians), SES index, and the interaction between race/ethnicity and SES index. Overall, approximately 40% of participants were Internet-users for health information. Direct effects of race/ethnicity and SES-and their interactions-were all found to be significant. Minority status combined with the lowest levels of SES substantially reduced the odds of using Internet for health information. Findings suggest the combination of racial/ethnic minority status and low SES as a source of digital divide, and provide implications for Internet technology training for the target population.