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. 2024 Jun 21;24(1):537.
doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-04994-3.

The association between internet use and the choice of medical institution among Chinese older adults

Liuying Wang #  1 , Zirong Cheng #  1 , Li Ye  1 , Lijuan Rong  1 , Ching-Wen Chien  2 , Tao-Hsin Tung  3   4   5
Affiliations

The association between internet use and the choice of medical institution among Chinese older adults

Liuying Wang et al. BMC Geriatr. .

Abstract

Background: As older people have complex medical needs and still encounter challenges in accessing online health information, the relationship between Internet use and the choice of medical institution made by them is unclear, and we aimed to examine this relationship.

Methods: Data from the newly released 2020 China Family Panel Survey database were used. Furthermore, we used descriptive statistics to analyze the background characteristics of the sample and a logistic regression model to estimate the impact of Internet use on the choice of medical institution made by older adults. We conducted a stratified analysis to explore the influence of different characteristics on the relationship between Internet use and the choice of medical institution.

Results: Totally 4,948 older adults were included. Multivariate logistic regression showed that, compared to non-Internet users, Internet users were less likely to choose community health service centers over general hospitals (P < 0.001, OR = 0.667, 95CI%: 0.558-0.797). The subgroup analyses found that Internet use only had an impact on the choice of medical institution in older adults aged 65-69 years, those with partners, those with primary or secondary education, those residing in urban areas, those without medical insurance, those with a self-rated health status as average or healthy, those with unchanged or better health trend, and those without chronic disease. The effect of Internet use on the choice of medical institution did not differ by sex, satisfaction, or trust in doctors.

Conclusion: Internet use may significantly affect older adults' tendency to choose general hospitals to meet their daily medical needs. The subgroup analyses indicated that different characteristics of older people affected this association.

Keywords: Health care provider choice; Hierarchical medical policy; Internet; Older adults.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that this study was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as conflicts of interest. The authors have no proprietary interest in any aspect of this study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of participant recruitment
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Research framework
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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