Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of the art

Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of the art Increasingly, consumers engage in health information seeking via the Internet. Taking a communication perspective, this review argues why public health professionals should be concerned about the topic, considers potential benefits, synthesizes quality concerns, identifies criteria for evaluating online health information and critiques the literature. More than 70 000 websites disseminate health information; in excess of 50 million people seek health information online, with likely consequences for the health care system. The Internet offers widespread access to health information, and the advantages of interactivity, information tailoring and anonymity. However, access is inequitable and use is hindered further by navigational challenges due to numerous design features (e.g. disorganization, technical language and lack of permanence). Increasingly, critics question the quality of online health information; limited research indicates that much is inaccurate. Meager information-evaluation skills add to consumers' vulnerability, and reinforce the need for quality standards and widespread criteria for evaluating health information. Extant literature can be characterized as speculative, comprised of basic `how to' presentations, with little empirical research. Future research needs to address the Internet as part of the larger health communication system and take advantage of incorporating extant communication concepts. Not only should research focus on the `net-gap' and information quality, it also should address the inherently communicative and transactional quality of Internet use. Both interpersonal and mass communication concepts open avenues for investigation and understanding the influence of the Internet on health beliefs and behaviors, health care, medical outcomes, and the health care system. © Oxford University Press « Previous | Next Article » Table of Contents This Article Health Educ. Res. (2001) 16 (6): 671-692. doi: 10.1093/her/16.6.671 » Abstract Free Full Text (HTML) Free Full Text (PDF) Free Classifications Original Article Services Article metrics Alert me when cited Alert me if corrected Alert me if commented Find similar articles Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Add to my archive Download citation Request Permissions Disclaimer Responses Submit a response No responses published Citing Articles Load citing article information Citing articles via CrossRef Citing articles via Scopus Citing articles via Web of Science Citing articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cline, R. J. W. Articles by Haynes, K. M. Search for related content PubMed PubMed citation Articles by Cline, R. J. W. Articles by Haynes, K. M. Related Content Load related web page information Share Email this article CiteULike Delicious Facebook Google+ Mendeley Twitter What's this? Search this journal: Advanced » Current Issue October 2015 30 (5) Alert me to new issues The Journal About this journal E-Letters Publishers' Books for Review Rights & Permissions Dispatch date of the next issue We are mobile – find out more Journals Career Network Impact factor: 1.574 5-Yr impact factor: 2.475 Executive Editor Michael Eriksen, USA View full editorial board For Authors Instructions to authors Online submission Self archiving policy This journal enables compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy Oxford Open Alerting Services Email table of contents Email Advance Access CiteTrack XML RSS feed Corporate Services Advertising sales Reprints Supplements var taxonomies = ("MED00860"); Most Most Read Understanding participation in sport and physical activity among children and adults: a review of qualitative studies Children's eating attitudes and behaviour: a study of the modelling and control theories of parental influence Understanding reasons for drug use amongst young people: a functional perspective Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of the art The effectiveness of school-based sex education programs in the promotion of abstinent behavior: a meta-analysis » View all Most Read articles Most Cited A review of research on fidelity of implementation: implications for drug abuse prevention in school settings Community coalitions for prevention and health promotion Planning for the sustainability of community-based health programs: conceptual frameworks and future directions for research, practice and policy Understanding the potential of teachable moments: the case of smoking cessation Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of the art » View all Most Cited articles Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department. Online ISSN 1465-3648 - Print ISSN 0268-1153 Copyright © 2015 Oxford University Press Oxford Journals Oxford University Press Site Map Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Legal Notices Frequently Asked Questions Other Oxford University Press sites: Oxford University Press Oxford Journals China Oxford Journals Japan Academic & Professional books Children's & Schools Books Dictionaries & Reference Dictionary of National Biography Digital Reference English Language Teaching Higher Education Textbooks International Education Unit Law Medicine Music Online Products & Publishing Oxford Bibliographies Online Oxford Dictionaries Online Oxford English Dictionary Oxford Language Dictionaries Online Oxford Scholarship Online Reference Rights and Permissions Resources for Retailers & Wholesalers Resources for the Healthcare Industry Very Short Introductions World's Classics function fnc_onDomLoaded() { var query_context = getQueryContext(); PF_initOIUnderbar(query_context,":QS:default","","JRN"); PF_insertOIUnderbar(0); }; if (window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', fnc_onDomLoaded, false); } else if (window.attachEvent) { window.attachEvent('onload', fnc_onDomLoaded); } var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-189672-16"); pageTracker._setDomainName(".oxfordjournals.org"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {} http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Health Education Research Oxford University Press

Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of the art

Loading next page...
 
/lp/oxford-university-press/consumer-health-information-seeking-on-the-internet-the-state-of-the-1dPghsIu3F

References (167)

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 Oxford University Press
ISSN
0268-1153
eISSN
1465-3648
DOI
10.1093/her/16.6.671
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Increasingly, consumers engage in health information seeking via the Internet. Taking a communication perspective, this review argues why public health professionals should be concerned about the topic, considers potential benefits, synthesizes quality concerns, identifies criteria for evaluating online health information and critiques the literature. More than 70 000 websites disseminate health information; in excess of 50 million people seek health information online, with likely consequences for the health care system. The Internet offers widespread access to health information, and the advantages of interactivity, information tailoring and anonymity. However, access is inequitable and use is hindered further by navigational challenges due to numerous design features (e.g. disorganization, technical language and lack of permanence). Increasingly, critics question the quality of online health information; limited research indicates that much is inaccurate. Meager information-evaluation skills add to consumers' vulnerability, and reinforce the need for quality standards and widespread criteria for evaluating health information. Extant literature can be characterized as speculative, comprised of basic `how to' presentations, with little empirical research. Future research needs to address the Internet as part of the larger health communication system and take advantage of incorporating extant communication concepts. Not only should research focus on the `net-gap' and information quality, it also should address the inherently communicative and transactional quality of Internet use. Both interpersonal and mass communication concepts open avenues for investigation and understanding the influence of the Internet on health beliefs and behaviors, health care, medical outcomes, and the health care system. © Oxford University Press « Previous | Next Article » Table of Contents This Article Health Educ. Res. (2001) 16 (6): 671-692. doi: 10.1093/her/16.6.671 » Abstract Free Full Text (HTML) Free Full Text (PDF) Free Classifications Original Article Services Article metrics Alert me when cited Alert me if corrected Alert me if commented Find similar articles Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Add to my archive Download citation Request Permissions Disclaimer Responses Submit a response No responses published Citing Articles Load citing article information Citing articles via CrossRef Citing articles via Scopus Citing articles via Web of Science Citing articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cline, R. J. W. Articles by Haynes, K. M. Search for related content PubMed PubMed citation Articles by Cline, R. J. W. Articles by Haynes, K. M. Related Content Load related web page information Share Email this article CiteULike Delicious Facebook Google+ Mendeley Twitter What's this? Search this journal: Advanced » Current Issue October 2015 30 (5) Alert me to new issues The Journal About this journal E-Letters Publishers' Books for Review Rights & Permissions Dispatch date of the next issue We are mobile – find out more Journals Career Network Impact factor: 1.574 5-Yr impact factor: 2.475 Executive Editor Michael Eriksen, USA View full editorial board For Authors Instructions to authors Online submission Self archiving policy This journal enables compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy Oxford Open Alerting Services Email table of contents Email Advance Access CiteTrack XML RSS feed Corporate Services Advertising sales Reprints Supplements var taxonomies = ("MED00860"); Most Most Read Understanding participation in sport and physical activity among children and adults: a review of qualitative studies Children's eating attitudes and behaviour: a study of the modelling and control theories of parental influence Understanding reasons for drug use amongst young people: a functional perspective Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of the art The effectiveness of school-based sex education programs in the promotion of abstinent behavior: a meta-analysis » View all Most Read articles Most Cited A review of research on fidelity of implementation: implications for drug abuse prevention in school settings Community coalitions for prevention and health promotion Planning for the sustainability of community-based health programs: conceptual frameworks and future directions for research, practice and policy Understanding the potential of teachable moments: the case of smoking cessation Consumer health information seeking on the Internet: the state of the art » View all Most Cited articles Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department. Online ISSN 1465-3648 - Print ISSN 0268-1153 Copyright © 2015 Oxford University Press Oxford Journals Oxford University Press Site Map Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Legal Notices Frequently Asked Questions Other Oxford University Press sites: Oxford University Press Oxford Journals China Oxford Journals Japan Academic & Professional books Children's & Schools Books Dictionaries & Reference Dictionary of National Biography Digital Reference English Language Teaching Higher Education Textbooks International Education Unit Law Medicine Music Online Products & Publishing Oxford Bibliographies Online Oxford Dictionaries Online Oxford English Dictionary Oxford Language Dictionaries Online Oxford Scholarship Online Reference Rights and Permissions Resources for Retailers & Wholesalers Resources for the Healthcare Industry Very Short Introductions World's Classics function fnc_onDomLoaded() { var query_context = getQueryContext(); PF_initOIUnderbar(query_context,":QS:default","","JRN"); PF_insertOIUnderbar(0); }; if (window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', fnc_onDomLoaded, false); } else if (window.attachEvent) { window.attachEvent('onload', fnc_onDomLoaded); } var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-189672-16"); pageTracker._setDomainName(".oxfordjournals.org"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}

Journal

Health Education ResearchOxford University Press

Published: Dec 1, 2001

There are no references for this article.