Online Program

275590
How beliefs towards ehealth communication predict internet and online health behaviors among middle- and older-age working adults in Taiwan


Monday, November 4, 2013

Su-I. Hou, DrPH, CPH, MCHES, RN, Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Peng-Hsi Hou, PhD, National Taipei University of Technology, Taichung, Taiwan
Ho-Shong Hou, PhD, Professor - National Taitung University, Taitung, Taiwan (R.O.C.), Taichung, Taiwan
Purpose: This study examined how beliefs towards eHealth communication predict Internet and online health information (OHI) middle- and older-age adult users in Taiwan and how age, gender, and education moderate these relationships. Methods: The eHealth communication survey was administered to employee age 40+ years in two major worksites in Taiwan. A previously validated eHealth communication belief inventory (eHealth-BI) with the eHealth-BI pros (4-items) and eHealth-BI cons (3-items) sub-scales, was used to assess participants' perceived usefulness (pros) and ease-of-use (cons) towards eHealth communication. Results: A total of 533 employees participated (mean age = 46.21 (SD=5.01) years). Bi-variate analyses showed participants with higher eHealth-Pros and lower eHealth-Cons scores were more active in all Internet and OHI behaviors. After adjusting for age, gender, and education, participants with higher eHealth-Pros scores were still more likely to have ever gone online (OR=2.50), sought OHI (OR=2.55), found OHI useful (OR=4.63), discussed OHI with others (OR=1.97), changed health behaviors (OR=2.75) or made treatment decisions based on OHI (OR=2.67), and view Internet as an important part of their life (OR=3.15) (all p<.001). Participants with lower eHealth-Cons score, had college education, or in their 40s were also more likely to be active Internet and OHI users. Conclusion: Results showed that perceived usefulness and ease-of-use towards eHealth communication were significant predictors, and age and education were important moderating factors. Study has implications on using the eHealth-BI tool and key demographic factors to identify active Internet and OHI users for targeted eHealth communication programs among middle- and older-age adults.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Communication and informatics
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Describe how perceived usefulness (eHealth-BI pros) and ease-of-use (eHealth-BI cons) influence Internet and online health information seeking behaviors. Discuss how the eHealth-BI measurement tool could be used to identify more active Internet and OHI users for targeted eHealth communication intervention programs. Discuss how age and education moderate the relationship of eHealth-BI and Internet and OHI behaviors among middle- and older-age adults.

Keyword(s): Health Communications, Internet

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I'm the PI of the study and have years of experience conducting health communication and intervention studies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.