title: eHealth literacy and Web 2.0 health information seeking behaviors among baby boomers and older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Baby boomers and older adults, a subset of the population at high risk for chronic disease, social isolation, and poor health outcomes, are increasingly utilizing the Internet and social media (Web 2.0) to locate and evaluate health information. However, among these older populations, little is known about what factors influence their eHealth literacy and use of Web 2.0 for health information.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The intent of the study was to explore the extent to which sociodemographic, social determinants, and electronic device use influences eHealth literacy and use of Web 2.0 for health information among baby boomers and older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of baby boomers and older adults (n=283, mean 67.46 years, SD 9.98) participated in a cross-sectional, telephone survey that included the eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS) and items from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) assessing electronic device use and use of Web 2.0 for health information. An independent samples t test compared eHealth literacy among users and non-users of Web 2.0 for health information. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine associations between sociodemographic, social determinants, and electronic device use on self-reported eHealth literacy and use of Web 2.0 for seeking and sharing health information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost 90% of older Web 2.0 users (90/101, 89.1%) reported using popular Web 2.0 websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to find and share health information. Respondents reporting use of Web 2.0 reported greater eHealth literacy (mean 30.38, SD 5.45, n=101) than those who did not use Web 2.0 (mean 28.31, SD 5.79, n=182), t217.60=-2.98, P=.003. Younger age (b=-0.10), more education (b=0.48), and use of more electronic devices (b=1.26) were significantly associated with greater eHealth literacy (R(2) =.17, R(2)adj =.14, F9,229=5.277, P<.001). Women were nearly three times more likely than men to use Web 2.0 for health information (OR 2.63, Wald= 8.09, df=1, P=.004). Finally, more education predicted greater use of Web 2.0 for health information, with college graduates (OR 2.57, Wald= 3.86, df =1, P=.049) and post graduates (OR 7.105, Wald= 4.278, df=1, P=.04) nearly 2 to 7 times more likely than non-high school graduates to use Web 2.0 for health information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Being younger and possessing more education was associated with greater eHealth literacy among baby boomers and older adults. Females and those highly educated, particularly at the post graduate level, reported greater use of Web 2.0 for health information. More in-depth surveys and interviews among more diverse groups of baby boomers and older adult populations will likely yield a better understanding regarding how current Web-based health information seeking and sharing behaviors influence health-related decision making.
authors.affiliation: ICF International, 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA, United States.
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8956-1434
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tennant
authors.forename: Michael
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1717-4114
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stellefson
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2768-3369
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: Beth
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1679-715X
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chaney
authors.forename: Don
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1342-5820
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chaney
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6141-5099
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paige
authors.forename: Julia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0822-846X
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alber
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061108:Social Media; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Web 2.0; aging; health literacy; social media