title: The intersection of gender and place in online health activities.
abstract: This study examines how rurality and gender are related to online health activities. Rural women face greater health risks and yet have access to a weaker health system infrastructure, which has resulted in a health disadvantage. New health information technologies may ameliorate some of these disparities; thus, the authors examine the relevance of gender and place in going online to search for health information, buy medicines, participate in health-related support groups, communicate with physicians, or maintain a personal health record. Analyzing data from the National Cancer Institute's 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey, the authors found that the relations between rurality and gender vary, depending on the specific type of online health activity, and that gender may be a more salient factor than rurality in determining whether individuals engage in particular types of online health activities. This study contributes to the literature by examining how gender and place are related to online health activities, a combined area neglected in past research, and advancing research on gender and technology. This research highlights the importance of expanding high-speed access in rural locations, increasing technological and health literacy, and tailoring the Internet to specific populations.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sociology , Union College , Schenectady , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldner
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: Shelia R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Cotten
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drentea
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012423:Rural Health; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult