Health information-seeking behaviors, health indicators, and health risks.
OBJECTIVE
We examined how different types of health information-seeking behaviors (HISBs)-no use, illness information only, wellness information only, and illness and wellness information combined-are associated with health risk factors and health indicators to determine possible motives for health information seeking.


METHODS
A sample of 559 Seattle-Tacoma area adults completed an Internet-based survey in summer 2006. The survey assessed types of HISB, physical and mental health indicators, health risks, and several covariates. Covariate-adjusted linear and logistic regression models were computed.


RESULTS
Almost half (49.4%) of the sample reported HISBs. Most HISBs (40.6%) involved seeking a combination of illness and wellness information, but both illness-only (28.6%) and wellness-only (30.8%) HISBs were also widespread. Wellness-only information seekers reported the most positive health assessments and the lowest occurrence of health risk factors. An opposite pattern emerged for illness-only information seekers.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings reveal a unique pattern of linkages between the type of health information sought (wellness, illness, and so on) and health self-assessment among adult Internet users in western Washington State. These associations suggest that distinct health motives may underlie HISB, a phenomenon frequently overlooked in previous research.
Weaver
James B
JB
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. jim.weaver@cdc.gov
Mays
Darren
D
Weaver
Stephanie Sargent
SS
Hopkins
Gary L
GL
Eroglu
Dogan
D
Bernhardt
Jay M
JM
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014861:Washington