THE CONFIDENCE OF HEALTH INFORMATION SEEKING BEHAVIORS FROM THE INTERNET

As a tremendous amount of health information available from the Internet, people feel less confidence in their ability to seek well-organized, high quality, and well-referenced health information. This study used 2012 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) data to find that little confidence in their ability to find information were found in Hispanic, older adults, and had lower annual incomes. Furthermore, individuals who frustrated searching health information and who could not stop or control worrying had less confidence on seeking information. In addition, making own decisions, doctor’s communication and doctor’s attention were significant predictors of the levels of confidence. These findings would help identify how individuals’ behaviors affect their level of confidence in their ability to find health information. Therefore, health care information vendors, policy makers, information specialists, and health professional could improve the development and delivery of health information to the general public.