Use Of Online Health Information Research Articles

Is there a relationship between internet access and COVID-19 mortality? Evidence from Nigeria based on a spatial analysis.

With over 6.5 million deaths due to COVID-19, it has become an issue of global health concern. Early findings have identified several social determinants of deaths from COVID-19. However, very few studies have been done on the relationship between internet access and COVID-19 mortality in the context of developing countries. Using geospatial methods, this study examines the relationship between internet access and COVID-19 mortality disparity in Nigeria. In contrast to the widely reported relationship in the literature that internet access lowers the risk of COVID-19 mortality, the current study finds that geographical locations with the highest internet access are the hotspots of COVID-19 mortality in Nigeria, especially some parts of southwest Nigeria. In addition, findings show that population density and unemployment are risk factors of COVID-19 mortality. The study recommends educating the population on the use of online health information and the need to adhere strictly to non-pharmaceutical and vaccination interventions to reduce the number of deaths caused by the virus.

Online health information use among hail city residents: A look into e-health literacy

Online health information use among hail city residents: A look into e-health literacy

Using Website Health Information to Manage Children’s Asthma

Bronchial Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of respiratory airways that affects loads of children worldwide. It is characterized by tightening of respiratory airways, making it hard to breathe. There is no curing treatment for asthma, but its management using medication and routine modifications can be achieved. The use of online information for bronchial asthma control was recently introduced and markedly being an emergent trend of parents to manage their asthmatic children. This research discovers the probable advantages and disadvantages of using online health information for asthma management in children. This work found that online health data can be a significant resource for parents of asthmatic children. It can offer correct information about the status of the patient, therapy choices, and lifestyle modifications that can aid to control manifestations. Online health data can also support parents' connection with other parents of asthmatic children and to discover support groups. However, the study also detected that there are some disadvantages related to the use of online health information in asthma pediatric patients. Parents may be exposed to incorrect or confusing data, and they may not be able to discriminate between dependable and untrustworthy sources. Moreover, parents may depend on online information and disregard consulting with their child's physician. Generally, this work proposes that online health data can be a useful method for parents of children with asthma. Though, it is vital to use this information in a wise way and keep consulting child's physician before choosing to make any modifications to a child's treatment strategy.

Studying health anxiety related attentional bias during online health information seeking: Impacts of stages and task types

Seeking online health information may reinforce the anxiety of those who are already overly anxious about their health. This study explored how people with health anxiety may behave differently in terms of their attentional biases when seeking health information online. We conducted an eye-tracking experiment with 17 participants in the high health anxious group and 17 participants in the low health anxious group, who performed three types of information-seeking tasks (factual, interpretive, and exploratory) on a Chinese health website. We observed that both groups mainly allocated their attention to the stages of evaluating the list of search results and synthesizing information to make health decisions. They showed similar attention tracks at the earlier search stages and health anxiety was found to associate with attentional biases towards certain website stimuli. However, the high health anxious group showed more active eye movements than their low health anxious counterparts. Attentional biases from the high health anxious group mainly occurred at the later stage of processing rather than the initial orientation stages. As for task types, the high health anxious group presented more extensive attentional biases when performing the interpretive task, compared to the explorative and factual tasks. The findings provide novel insights into the attentional biases of people with health anxiety as they search online for health information, which have implications on designing more effective information interventions for vulnerable groups of health information consumers. The findings can also help clinicians interpret patients’ anxiety-related sensations and provide intervening recommendations for clients in use of online health information.

(175) Readability Assessment of Online Men's Health Education Materials from the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, Urology Care Foundation, and European Association of Urology

Abstract Introduction The use of online health information by patients has gained considerable attention during the last decade. With this attention has come exponential adoption towards online resources. Existing literature has shown that a significant majority of patient education materials (PEM) available online exceed the literacy and comprehension of the audience reading them. The National Institute of Health (NIH) and American Medical Association (AMA) advocate the dissemination of accessible and readable resources targeted towards a fifth to seventh grade reading level. As the rise of mens health and sexual health continues to grow, understanding what resources may currently exist and how they meet or fail to meet patients needs is of growing concern. Objective We aimed to evaluate the readability of online patient resources from the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA), American Urological Association and European Urological Association websites. Methods Content published under the web-section “SMSNA: For Patients - conditions and topics” portal (n=16) were reviewed. Identical topics published online via Urology Care Foundation (ie AUA; n=8) and the European Association of Urology (ie EAU; n=8) were also reviewed. Readability and estimated educational level required for understanding was assessed using validated readability and English language assessment tools including the Flesh Reading Ease score, Flesch Kincade, Gunning Fog, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), Coleman-Liau and Automated Readability index. Results SMSNA online patient education materials (PEM), on average, are written at a college sophomore reading level (14th grade). This is 6.5 and 8 grade levels higher than the average U.S. adult and recommended reading levels for PEM, respectively. Comparable AUA and EAU resources were an average of 10th (p<0.05) and 12th (p=0.854) grade reading levels, respectively. Conclusions Men’s sexual health PEM’s published online are written at an advanced reading level, most notably the SMSNA compared to equivalent professional sources. This could pose a barrier to patient understanding and impact patients’ engagement and health decision-making. One proposed mitigatory strategy is for PEM to provide improved readability, and appropriate user-friendly language to facilitate easier and inclusive understanding, outreach and educational support. Disclosure No

Online Health Information-Seeking Behaviours and eHealth Literacy among First-Generation Chinese Immigrants.

Due to linguistic and cultural barriers, immigrants often have limited access to health information. Online health information is popular and accessible, but quality is questionable and its benefits dependent on an individual's eHealth literacy. This study examined online health information-seeking behaviours, eHealth literacy and its predictors among first-generation Chinese immigrants. A sample of 356 Chinese immigrants living in Australia completed an anonymous paper-based survey, including sociodemographic, clinical data, English proficiency, health literacy, online health information-seeking behaviours, and eHealth literacy. Linear regression models analyzed predictive factors of eHealth literacy. Participants were aged mean 59.3 years, female (68.3%), 53.1% completed university, and their English proficiency was rated fair/poor by 75.1%. Participants perceived online health information as useful (61.6%) and important (56.2%) to their health. Health information accessed was often related to lifestyle (61.2%), health resources (44.9%), diseases (36.0%), and medications (30.9%). Inadequate health literacy and eHealth literacy occurred in 48.3% and 44.9%, respectively. Age, number of technological devices used, education, and health status were independently associated with eHealth literacy. While most Chinese immigrants used online health information, many had inadequate eHealth literacy. Healthcare authorities and providers should support older immigrants, those with lower education and poorer health, and those less engaged with technology in online health information use by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate information, directing immigrants to credible websites, and involving them in health material development processes.

Examining the impact of a symptom assessment application on patient-physician interaction among self-referred walk-in patients in the emergency department (AKUSYM): study protocol for a multi-center, randomized controlled, parallel-group superiority trial

BackgroundDue to the increasing use of online health information, symptom checkers have been developed to provide an individualized assessment of health complaints and provide potential diagnoses and an urgency estimation. It is assumed that they support patient empowerment and have a positive impact on patient-physician interaction and satisfaction with care. Particularly in the emergency department (ED), symptom checkers could be integrated to bridge waiting times in the ED, and patients as well as physicians could take advantage of potential positive effects. Our study therefore aims to assess the impact of symptom assessment application (SAA) usage compared to no SAA usage on the patient-physician interaction in self-referred walk-in patients in the ED population.MethodsIn this multi-center, 1:1 randomized, controlled, parallel-group superiority trial, 440 self-referred adult walk-in patients with a non-urgent triage category will be recruited in three EDs in Berlin. Eligible participants in the intervention group will use a SAA directly after initial triage. The control group receives standard care without using a SAA. The primary endpoint is patients’ satisfaction with the patient-physician interaction assessed by the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire.DiscussionThe results of this trial could influence the implementation of SAA into acute care to improve the satisfaction with the patient-physician interaction.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Registry DRKS00028598. Registered on 25.03.2022

Laypeople's Online Health Information Search Strategies and Use for Health-Related Problems: Cross-sectional Survey.

BackgroundWith the increase in the use of the internet to search for health information about health-related problems, there is a need for health care professionals to better understand how their patients search for and use the online health information that may influence their medical decision making.ObjectiveThe aims of this study are to explore laypeople’s online health information search strategies and examine the relationships between their search strategies and utilization behavior of online health information.MethodsTwo scales, namely match and elaboration, were used to measure patients’ basic search strategies (ie, simple approach) and advanced search strategies (ie, integrative approach), respectively. In addition, the consultation scale was used to evaluate the participants’ use of online health information to consult doctors and others. A total of 253 outpatients without university education were purposely selected and surveyed. The participants were outpatients at a university-affiliated teaching hospital. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was performed to analyze the measurement model to specify the measurement validation. In addition, the structure model of PLS-SEM was evaluated to examine the path correlations between variables and to execute interaction effect and curvilinear relationship analyses.ResultsThe results of the path correlation analysis by PLS-SEM showed that both elaboration strategy (path coefficient=0.55, P<.001) and match strategy (path coefficient=0.36, P<.001) were positively correlated with consultation on online health information with doctors and others. In addition, interaction effect and curvilinear relationship analyses indicated that there was a significant interaction effect between elaboration and match on consultation (path coefficient=–0.34, P<.001) and a significant curvilinear relationship between match and consultation (path coefficient=–0.09, P=.046).ConclusionsIncreasing patients’ exposure to online health information through both a simple search approach (ie, match strategy) and a complex search approach (ie, elaboration strategy) may lead them to appropriately use the information to consult doctors and others. However, the results of interaction effect and curvilinear relationship analyses highlighted the essential role of the elaboration strategy to properly locate, evaluate, and apply online health information. The findings of this study may help health care professionals better understand how to communicate with their patients through the health information on the internet.

Contexts and Outcomes of Proxy Online Health Information Seeking: Mixed Studies Review With Framework Synthesis.

BackgroundHigh-quality online health information (OHI) can reduce unnecessary visits to health professionals and improve health. One of the ways that people use OHI is to support others with health conditions through proxy OHI seeking. Members of a person’s social circle may help them overcome information-seeking barriers and illness challenges. There are several models on proxy information seeking. Yet, we know little about the use and outcomes of OHI on behalf of someone else.ObjectiveThe objectives of this paper are to explore and revise a framework on the context and outcomes of proxy OHI seekingMethodsWe conducted a mixed studies literature review integrating qualitative and quantitative evidence with thematic analysis of the findings of 28 studies, followed by framework synthesis incorporating the derived themes.ResultsWe explored 4 main themes: (1) characteristics of proxy seekers, (2) context of proxy OHI seeking, (3) use of OHI to provide social support, and (4) outcomes of proxy OHI seeking. Our conceptual framework incorporates these themes and builds on previous work.ConclusionsBy better understanding how people use information together, information providers can adapt the information to meet all users’ needs.

EHealth Literacy Among Health Sciences Students in Greece.

eÎŮealth literacy is a necessary skill to find and make good use of online health information. However, the general public lacks this skill; it is essential for future health professionals to be able to guide and facilitate the public. The study aimed to examine the perceived eHealth literacy level of health sciences students in Greece. A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted (N=113 students). The questionnaire included socio-demographic data and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). Participants' mean eHEALS score was 31.9 with medicine and dentistry students having the highest score (33.7) and other health and caring sciences students the lowest (29.8). There was no statistically significant difference at eHEALS score among participants of different academic year. However, there was a statistically significant difference at eHEALS score among University Departments (p=0.009). Further research in representative samples is required to assess specific needs and improve current educational curricula.

Patients\u2019 and healthcare providers\u2019 perceptions and experiences of telehealth use and online health information use in chronic disease management for older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a qualitative study

BackgroundTelehealth and online health information provide patients with increased access to healthcare services and health information in chronic disease management of older patients with chronic diseases, addressing the challenge of inadequate health resources and promoting active and informed participation of older patients in chronic disease management. There are few qualitative studies on the application of telehealth and online health information to chronic disease management in older patients. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the most common chronic diseases in older adults. Telehealth is widely used in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of older patients and healthcare providers in the application of telehealth and online health information to chronic disease management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.MethodsA qualitative descriptive study with data generated from 52 individual semi-structured interviews with 29 patients [Law of the People’s Republic of China on the protection of the rights and interests of older people (2018 Revised Version) = >60 years old] with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 23 healthcare providers. The inductive thematic analysis method was used for data analysis.ResultsFour themes and 16 sub-themes were identified in this study. Four themes included: faced with a vast amount of online health information, essential competencies and personality traits ensuring older patients’ participation and sustained use, user experience with the use of technology, being in a complex social context.ConclusionThe ability of patients to understand health information should be fully considered while facilitating access to online health information for older patients. The role of health responsibility and user experience in older patients’ participation and sustained use of telehealth and online health information needs to be emphasised. In addition, the complex social context is a determining factor to be considered, particularly the complex impact of a reliance on offspring and social prejudice on the behaviour of older adults using telehealth and online health information.

The Status of Electronic Health Literacy in people with Hearing Impairment: Content Analysis Approach

Background and Objective: People with hearing impairments have not accessed well to health information sources compared to people with normal hearing. The study aims to show the status of electronic health literacy in persons with hearing impairments.Materials and Methods: The methodology was content analysis based on of Graneheim, B. Lundman’s pattern. Thirty-five participants with hearing impairments and 14 persons with normal hearing were selected. Sampling started with the purposive method and continued until data saturation. A total of 76 semi-structured interviews were made and analyzed using MaxQDA 10.4.15.1. Results: The current state of electronic health literacy in people with hearing impairment was emerged as a theme, included three main categories contains poor electronic health literacy, underlying causes for poor electronic health literacy, and consequences of low electronic health literacy in persons with hearing impairment. Poor electronic health literacy consists of poor online health information seeking skills, poor understanding, and processing of online health information, and poor evaluation of online health information. Four main subcategories for poor electronic health literacy were unequal access to conventional health information, incongruous health communication, lack of considering persons with hearing impairment in producing health education programs, and poor electronic health information sources for persons with hearing impairment. In addition, consequences of low electronic health literacy are composed of two subcategories, including reliance on available information sources and the promotion of misconceptions in the deaf community. Conclusion: Low theoretical and applied knowledge about various aspects of health might be the main factor in people with hearing impairments that influences their nature of deafness and obstacles to access health information sources Online content generation fitting the needs of those persons recommended creating access to health information for them. In addition to this, the development and enhancement of information searching skills, understanding and processing, evaluation, and use of online health information are essential.

Assessing the Quality of Online Health Information About Breast Cancer from Chinese Language Websites: Quality Assessment Survey.

BackgroundIn China, the internet has become one of the most important ways to obtain information about breast cancer. However, quantitative evaluations of the quality of Chinese health websites and the breast cancer treatment information they publish are lacking.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the quality of Chinese breast cancer websites and the value, suitability, and accuracy of the breast cancer treatment information they publish.MethodsChinese breast cancer health websites were searched and manually screened according to their Alexa and Baidu search engine rankings. For each website included in the survey, which was conducted on April 8, 2019, the three most recently published papers on the website that met the inclusion criteria were included for evaluation. Three raters assessed all materials using the LIDA, DISCERN, and Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) tools and the Michigan Checklist. Data analysis was completed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 and Microsoft Excel 2010.ResultsThis survey included 20 Chinese breast cancer websites and 60 papers on breast cancer treatment. The LIDA tool was used to evaluate the quality of the 20 websites. The LIDA’s scores of the websites (mean=54.85, SD 3.498; total possible score=81) were low. In terms of the layout, color scheme, search facility, browsing facility, integration of nontextual media, submission of comments, declaration of objectives, content production method, and robust method, more than half of the websites scored 0 (never) or 1 (sometimes). For the online breast cancer treatment papers, the scores were generally low. Regarding suitability, 32 (53.33%) papers were evaluated as presenting unsuitable material. Regarding accuracy, the problems were that the papers were largely not original (44/60, 73%) and lacked references (46/60, 77%).ConclusionsThe quality of Chinese breast cancer websites is poor. The color schemes, text settings, user comment submission functions, and language designs should be improved. The quality of Chinese online breast cancer treatment information is poor; the information has little value to users, and pictorial information is scarcely used. The online breast cancer treatment information is accurate but lacks originality and references. Website developers, governments, and medical professionals should play a full role in the design of health websites, the regulation of online health information, and the use of online health information.

Knowledge Management from Senior Users of Online Health Information Point of View

In today’s society, all citizens who need digital information to manage their everyday life must be able to access it and trust it. They should have enough knowledge to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) and online health information (OHI) in an intended and purposeful way. The broader aim of this paper is to present and discuss health knowledge management (KM) from senior users of the online health information point of view. The theoretical point of departure is based on an understanding of health, knowledge and the Internet as social practices. This paper investigates e-Health literacy (eHL) and KM in health amongst seniors aged 65-90. It presents a case study on how they access, apprais, share and apply OHI in comparison to the way they use face-to-face health-encounters. Data comes from 17 open-ended interviews. E-HL and KM concepts are used to analyse and describe online behaviour and knowledge management in health as an interplay between individual and social factors. The results show how participants engage in self- and co-management of their own or others' health and illustrate how they get or receive help to understand OHI. By examining how they use ICT and do (not) trust OHI regarding “serious cases,” this paper provides critical insight into ways seniors acquire information and how they appraise, understand or trust in it. Their information-seeking activities are performed mainly in private settings, seldom with professionals. They have lower levels of trust in their own, individual appraisal skills, compared to collective searches and discussions. Norwegian seniors are cool and pragmatic, and emphatic on the “when needs must, see your GP!”. By examining differences in ICT use, knowledge acquisition and support given or received, the results pinpoint how providers must affirm seniors’ ICT use and individual and collective online health behaviour as assets for healthy ageing. A potential barrier for citizens’ use of OHI and health technology is the built-in understanding of health as an individual capacity and ICT use as an individual activity, compared to a contemporary understanding of health and the Internet as social practices and collective resources. Designers of health technologies and OHI should critically consider built-in understandings of content and users to enhance accessibility and value for citizens of all ages.

Combining patient talk about internet use during primary care consultations with retrospective accounts. A qualitative analysis of interactional and interview data.

Despite widespread acknowledgement of internet use for information about health, patients report not disclosing use of online health information in consultations. This paper compares patients' reported use of the internet with matched video recordings of consultations. The concepts of doctorability and epistemics are employed to consider similarities and differences between patients’ reports in interviews and actions in the consultation. Data are drawn from the Harnessing Resources from the Internet study conducted in the UK. The data set consists of 281 video-recorded general practice consultations, with pre-consultation questionnaires completed by all patients, interviews with all 10 participating doctors and 28 selected patients. We focus on the 28 patient interviews and associated consultation recordings. A conversation analytic (CA) approach is used to systematically inspect both the interview and consultation data. In interviews patients presented use of the internet as associated with appropriate self-management and help-seeking. In consultations patients skilfully translated what they had found on the internet in order to provide grounds for the actions they sought. We conclude that patients translate and utilise what they have found on the internet to assert the doctorability of their presenting problems. Furthermore, patients design their talk in both interviews and consultations to accord with their understanding of the epistemic rights of both doctors and patients. Patients search the internet so they are informed about their medical problem, however they carefully manage disclosure of information to avoid disrupting the smooth running of medical interactions.

Online health consumer behaviour: What informs user decisions on information quality?

Around the world, the use of Online Health Information (OHI) is on the increase. This is even more prevalent in developing economies where poor healthcare access and delivery present OHI as a potent alternative to physician consultations. This phenomenon grants the online health information seeker the sole decision-making responsibility of determining the quality of OHI. Given the potential consequences of incorrect medical advice, it is important to understand what criteria constitutes quality OHI from the perspective of users so as to inform better OHI publication and design. Using choice-based conjoint analysis as a preference modelling technique, the results indicate that, in order of importance, OHI seekers view the credibility of the author or their affiliation as a key measure of OHI quality, while the provision of internal search functionality is viewed as a measure of design quality. OHI seekers however showed a less preference for web portals that store and process user data. The OHI quality preferences obtained in the study were used to audit selected OHI portals to ascertain their level of conformity with the observed user preferences.

The Effect of Information Type (Inforgraphic vs. Text) on an E- Government Site on Userʼs Attitudes and Responses to the Site: Moderating Roles of User Information Processing Tendency (Visual vs.Verbal) and Information Literacy

The Effect of Information Type (Inforgraphic vs. Text) on an E- Government Site on Userʼs Attitudes and Responses to the Site: Moderating Roles of User Information Processing Tendency (Visual vs.Verbal) and Information Literacy

Parental Online Information Access and Childhood Vaccination Decisions in North America: Scoping Review

BackgroundImmunizing children throughout their early years prevents the spread of communicable disease and decreases the morbidity and mortality associated with many vaccine-preventable diseases. Searching online allows individuals rapid access to health information.ObjectiveThe purpose of this review was to develop an understanding of the existing literature of parents’ online health information-seeking behaviors to inform their vaccination choices for their children and to identify gaps in the literature around parents’ use of online health information and their vaccination choices.MethodsA scoping review of peer-reviewed literature from Canada and the United States was performed. The following databases were utilized to perform the search: PubMed, CINAHL, Nursing & Allied Health Database, Scopus, and PsycINFO. The purpose of this review was to examine parents’ use of online information seeking related to vaccine information and to understand how parents utilize this information to inform decisions about vaccinating their children. Of the 34 papers included in the review, 4 relevant themes and subthemes were identified: information seeking, online information resources, online vaccine content, and trust in health care providers.ResultsExamination of the literature revealed conflicting information regarding parents’ use of social media and online resources to inform decisions around vaccinating their children. There is evidence of significant misinformation regarding vaccine risks online. Parents’ digital health literacy levels are unknown and may affect their ability to appraise online vaccination information.ConclusionsParents are seeking vaccine information from online sources. However, the influence of online vaccine information on parental vaccine practices remains uncertain.

A Typology of Patients Based on Decision-Making Styles: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

BackgroundAlthough previous research shows broad differences in the impact of online health information on patient-practitioner decision making, specific research is required to identify and conceptualize patient decision-making styles related to the use of online health information and to differentiate segments according to the influence of online information on patient decision making and interactions with health professionals.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate patients’ decision making in relation to online health information and interactions with health care practitioners. We also aimed to present a typology of patients based on significant differences in their decision making.MethodsWe applied a large-scale cross-sectional research design using a survey. Data, generated using a questionnaire that was administered by companies specializing in providing online panels, were collected from random samples of baby boomers in the United Kingdom, the United States, and New Zealand. The total sample comprised 996 baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964, who had used the internet in the previous 6 months to search for and share health-related information. Data were analyzed using hierarchical cluster analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, as well as one-way analysis of variance, chi-square tests, and paired sample t tests.ResultsAnalyses identified 3 key decision-making styles that served as the base for 4 unique and stable segments of patients with distinctive decision-making styles: the Collaborators (229/996, 23.0%), the Autonomous-Collaborators (385/996, 38.7%), the Assertive-Collaborators (111/996, 11.1%), and the Passives (271/996, 27.2%). Profiles were further developed for these segments according to key differences in the online health information behavior, demographics, and interactional behaviors of patients. The typology demonstrates that collaborative decision making is dominant among patients either in its pure form or in combination with autonomous or assertive decision making. In other words, most patients (725/996, 72.8%) show significant collaboration in their decision making with health care professionals. However, at times, patients in the combination Autonomous-Collaborative segment prefer to exercise individual autonomy in their decision making, and those in the combination Assertive-Collaborative segment prefer to be assertive with health professionals. Finally, this study shows that a substantial number of patients adopt a distinctly passive decision-making style (271/996, 27.2%).ConclusionsThe patient typology provides a framework for distinguishing practice-relevant and addressable segments with important implications for health care practitioners, including better-targeted communication programs for patients and more successful outcomes for health care services in the long term.

LANGUAGE USE, LITERACY SKILLS, AND ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION-SEEKING IN LATER LIFE AMONG HISPANICS IN THE U.S.

Online platforms, which are often in English, have become a common source of health information. Accordingly, language skills have been shown to be important for health information-seeking. In the United States, the use of online health information is generally low among Hispanics, particularly those with limited English proficiency. What is less clear, however, is how different measures of English proficiency may be linked to online health information seeking in later life. This study examines the associations between language spoken at home, literacy skills, and online health information seeking among middle age and older Hispanics in the U.S. Data of Hispanic adults aged 40 years and older (n = 315) come from the 2012/2014 Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). We used binary logistic regression models with complex sampling weights to examine online health information seeking as a function of primary language use at home (Spanish vs. English) and literacy skill assessment scores (low – high: 0 – 500 points). Results indicated that speaking Spanish at home (OR = 0.317, p < 0.05) is a negative predictor, and greater literacy skills (OR = 1.011, p < 0.05) is a positive predictor of online health information seeking. Findings from this study clarify possible health information disadvantages by limited English proficiency and lower literacy skills. We discuss how the impact of primary language use and literacy skills should be incorporated into future health communication and policy initiatives to address the barriers to health information among middle-aged and older Hispanic adults.