title: Patterns of trust in sources of health information.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the different patterns of trust that exist regarding different sources of information about health issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a large national health lifestyles survey of New Zealanders was examined using a factor analysis of trust toward 24 health information sources (HIS). Differences in trust are compared across a range of demographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factor analysis identified six different groupings of health information. Variations in trust in sources for health information are identified by age, employment status, level of education, income, sex and ethnic group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systematic variations exist in the trust that people report with respect to different sources of health information. Understanding these variations may assist policymakers and other agencies which are responsible for planning the dissemination of health information.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marketing, School of Business, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. rob.lawson@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust