Dutta-Bergman Mohan J
Department of Communication, Purdue University, 2477 Musket Way, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA.
J Med Internet Res. 2004 May 28;6(2):e15. doi: 10.2196/jmir.6.2.e15.
Using a functional theory of media use, this paper examines the process of health-information seeking in different domains of Internet use.
Based on an analysis of the 1999 HealthStyles data, this study was designed to demonstrate that people who gather information on the Internet are more health-oriented than non-users of Internet health information.
The Porter Novelli HealthStyles database, collected annually since 1995, is based on the results of nationally representative postal mail surveys. In 1999, 2636 respondents provided usable data for the HealthStyles database. Independent sample t-tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted.
The results showed that individuals who searched for health information on the Internet were indeed more likely to be health-oriented than those who did not. Consumers who sought out medical information on the Internet reported higher levels of health-information orientation and healthy activities, as well as stronger health beliefs than those who did not search for medical news on the Internet. It was observed that those who reported searching for information about drugs and medications on the Internet held stronger health beliefs than the non-searchers. Comparison of individuals who reported seeking out information about specific diseases on the Internet with individuals who did not showed those who sought out disease-specific information on the Internet to be more health-oriented. Finally, consumers who sought out healthy lifestyle information on the Internet were more health conscious and more health-information oriented than those who did not. They were also more likely to hold stronger health-oriented beliefs and to engage in healthy activities.
The results support the functional theory of Internet use. Internet searchers who used the Internet for a wide range of health purposes were typically more health oriented than non-searchers.
本文运用媒介使用的功能理论，考察了在互联网不同领域中寻求健康信息的过程。
基于对1999年健康风格数据的分析，本研究旨在证明在互联网上收集信息的人比不使用互联网健康信息的人更注重健康。
波特诺维利健康风格数据库自1995年起每年收集，基于全国代表性邮政邮件调查的结果。1999年，2636名受访者为健康风格数据库提供了可用数据。进行了独立样本t检验和逻辑回归分析。
结果表明，在互联网上搜索健康信息的个体确实比不搜索的个体更注重健康。在互联网上寻求医疗信息的消费者报告的健康信息导向水平和健康活动水平更高，以及比那些不在互联网上搜索医疗新闻的人有更强的健康信念。据观察，那些报告在互联网上搜索药物和药品信息的人比不搜索的人有更强的健康信念。将报告在互联网上寻求特定疾病信息的个体与未寻求特定疾病信息的个体进行比较，结果显示在互联网上寻求特定疾病信息的个体更注重健康。最后，在互联网上寻求健康生活方式信息的消费者比不寻求的消费者更有健康意识和更注重健康信息。他们也更有可能持有更强的健康导向信念并参与健康活动。
结果支持互联网使用的功能理论。出于广泛健康目的使用互联网的互联网搜索者通常比不搜索者更注重健康。
