Online Health Information Seeking Among US Adults: Measuring Progress Toward a Healthy People 2020 Objective

Abstract

Objective: During the past decade, the availability of health information online has increased dramatically. We assessed progress toward the Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) health communication and health information technology objective of increasing the proportion of health information seekers who easily access health information online.

Methods: We used data from 4 administrations of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 2008-2017) (N = 18 103). We conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate trends over time in experiences with accessing health information and to examine differences by sociodemographic variables (sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, income, metropolitan status) separately for those who used the internet (vs other information sources) during their most recent search for health information.

Results: Among US adults who looked for health information and used the internet for their most recent search, the percentage who reported accessing health information without frustration was stable during the study period (from 37.2% in 2008 to 38.5% in 2017). Accessing information online without frustration was significantly and independently associated with age 35-49 (vs age 18-34) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 -1.73), non-Hispanic black (vs non-Hispanic white) race/ethnicity (OR = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.55-2.97), and annual household income <$20 000 (vs >$75 000) (OR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47-0.93). The percentage of adults who used an information source other than the internet and reported accessing health information online without frustration ranged from 31.3% in 2008 to 42.7% in 2017. Survey year 2017 (vs 2008) (OR = 1.61; 95% CI, 1.09-2.35) and high school graduate education (vs college graduate) (OR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.49-0.97) were significantly and independently associated with accessing health information without frustration from sources other than the internet.

Conclusions: The percentage of online health information seekers reporting easily accessing health information did not meet the HP2020 objective. Continued efforts are needed to enable easy access to online health information among diverse populations.

Keywords: Healthy People programs; access to information; frustration; health communication; internet.

Figure.

A comparison of the percentage of adults aged ≥18 (with 95% confidence intervals) who sought health information and accessed health information without frustration during their most recent search, by source of health information, Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), 2008-2017, United States. Accessing health information without frustration is defined as responding “strongly disagree” to the question: “Based on the results of your most recent search for information about health or medical topics, how much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? You felt frustrated during your search for the information.” Response options were measured on a 4-point scale, ranging from 1 = strongly disagree to 4 = strongly agree. All HINTS respondents were asked, “Have you ever looked for information about health or medical topics from any source?” Those who responded yes were asked, “The most recent time you looked for information about health or medical topics, where did you go first?” Response options for this item included various information sources (eg, books, brochures, cancer organizations, family, friend, coworker, physician or health care provider, internet, library, magazines, newspapers, telephone information line, or unconventional practitioner); responses were dichotomized as internet vs other.