title: The internet as a source of health information in three disparate communities.
abstract: A survey questionnaire was designed and implemented across three different communities to determine the current utilisation, importance, trust and future preference for the internet as a source of health information in three different socioeconomic groups. The following were the key results. Fewer respondents in the low socioeconomic group accessed online health information than the mid-high socioeconomic or university samples. The internet was a much more important source of health information for the university sample. The use of online health information and the importance ascribed to the internet as a source of health information was related to home internet access and the frequency of internet use in all three populations. Most respondents do not bring online health information to their doctor (>70% of those who access online health information). Age alone did not relate to the current use of the internet as a source of health information. Most respondents in all populations did not trust the internet. In all populations the internet was a more preferred source of health information than its current use would suggest, especially among those with home internet access and frequent users of the internet.
authors.affiliation: iHealth Solutions Pty Ltd, PO Box 2369, Graceville East, Brisbane, QLD 4075, Australia. jareddart@optusnet.com.au
authors.forename: Jared
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013021:South Australia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D035502:Trust; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*