What predicts patients' interest in the Internet as a health resource in primary care in England?
OBJECTIVE
To identify what factors predict patients' interest in using Internet health information in the light of poor uptake of a free, guided Internet service in one inner-city general practice.


METHODS
Questionnaires were administered over a five-day period to consecutive adult patients attending two Manchester general practices: an inner-city practice serving a relatively deprived patient population where the free Internet service had previously been available, and a suburban practice serving a relatively affluent population. Data were analysed using multiple regression to identify predictors of self-reported interest in using the Internet for health information.


RESULTS
A total of 753 (74%) patients completed the questionnaire although analyses were restricted to 660 (65%) cases. Independent predictors of patient-reported interest in getting health information from the Internet were (in order of relative 'importance'): positive outcome expectancy (i.e. the patient's strength of belief that it would enable them to deal better with their health); previous use of health websites; positive 'self-efficacy' (i.e. patients' confidence in their ability to use the technology); higher education; a positive attitude to getting health information from alternative sources; social deprivation; and having school-age children living at home. Level of Internet access was an important determinant of self-efficacy, but home access was the key predictor of outcome expectancy and past use of 'e-health'.


CONCLUSIONS
Access, demographics and, particularly, motivational factors all influence patients' interest in the Internet as a health resource. Proposals to encourage more widespread use of digital health information need to take account of this complexity and not deal with access issues alone.
Mead
Nicola
N
National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Varnam
Robert
R
Rogers
Anne
A
Roland
Martin
M
D000328:Adult; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003710:Demography; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013222:State Medicine; D013383:Suburban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data