@Article{info:doi/10.2196/jmir.3.2.e17,
author="Smith-Barbaro, Peggy A
and Licciardone, John C
and Clarke, Howard F
and Coleridge, Samuel T",
title="Factors Associated with Intended Use of a Web Site Among Family Practice Patients",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2001",
month="May",
day="17",
volume="3",
number="2",
pages="e17",
keywords="Internet/utilization; Questionnaires; Surveys; Patients/statistics; numerical data; Attitude to Computers; Socioeconomic Factors; Age Factors; Health Education/methods; Health Behavior; Family Practice; Logistic Models; Odds Ratio; Digital Divide",
abstract="Background: The World Wide Web has become a widely utilized source of health information. Although the frequency of health related queries is impressive, the demographics associated with patients making queries has not been clearly delineated. Objective: This study's objective was to determine health related Internet usage patterns of family medicine patients. Methods: Internet use among 824 eligible patients 18 years or older attending seven university based family practice clinics during a two week period in November of 1999 was studied. The survey instrument included 10 items and was designed to collect data in less than five minutes using a paper and pencil format. Statistical significance associated with intended Web site use was computed using a multiple logistic regression model. Results: A response rate of 72.2{\%} was observed with 63.1{\%} being females and 36.9{\%} being males. The mean and median age were 44.0 and 45.7 years, respectively. A steady decline in intended Web site use was observed with advancing age with significant differences observed above 65 years (OR = 0.30; 95{\%} CI = 0.14 - 0.64; p< .002). Other significant findings associated with intended use of a Web site by clinic based patients included having a home computer (OR = 1.99; 95{\%}, CI = 1.05 - 3.76; p<0.03) and having Internet access at home (OR=5.6, 95{\%}, CI = 2.83-11.18; p<.001). A lack of association between intended Web site use and health insurance status was observed. Conclusions: Results from this study suggest that Web sites are not likely to be alternative sources of health information for the uninsured or elderly in the near future. ",
issn="1438-8871",
doi="10.2196/jmir.3.2.e17",
url="http://www.jmir.org/2001/2/e17/",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.3.2.e17",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11720959"
}