Measuring online health‐seeking behaviour: Construction and initial validation of a new scale

Abstract

Objectives. Online health-seeking behaviour (OHSB) such as information-and support-seeking encompasses a range of motivations and outcomes, but few studies consider the nuances of OHSB. The current study aimed to (1) develop and provide an initial validation of an OHSB measure, and (2) explore the role of demographic variables in OHSB among adult Internet users.Design. The study was a quantitative, cross-sectional online survey.Methods. The study consistent of two data collection waves, including 451 general Internet users (aged 18-73) and 204 online health groups users (aged 19-78) who completed online questionnaires.Result. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Item Analysis in the two samples resulted in a final 37-item measure. The scale comprises three distinct factors: Support seeking (a = .97); information seeking (a = .89); and the Internet as a supplement or alternative to offline medical care (a = .88). Multiple regression analyses indicated that younger age, a higher number of people living in the household, and presence of a chronic condition significantly predicted all three aspects of OHSB. Poorer perceived health also predicted support-seeking online, while being male, employed and a general Internet user (vs. online health group member) also predicted using the Internet as a supplement or alternative to offline medical care. Conclusion.The study presents a useful scale for future research to explore more complex psychosocial, contextual and health-related variables as potential contributors to health-seeking in the online domain. Statement of contributionThis article describes the development and validation of a new measure that assessed online health-seeking behaviours among adults. There are currently no established measures to explore health-seeking online that would enable an understanding of the associated motivations and outcomes. The current study thus sought to develop such a measure as well as explore whether a range of demographic variables influence online health-seeking in two samples of Internet users.Grounded in current literature in the area, we constructed and refined the items in the scale using data from two waves, including 451 adults aged 18-73 years and 204 online health groups users (aged 19-78) who completed the online questionnaire that included

Psychosocial correlates of well-being among people who engage in online health-seeking behaviour

“…While health care costs may be increasing, thereby limiting accessibility (World Health Organisation, 2020), the internet is becoming increasingly accessible. People who engage in online health-seeking behaviour typically do so to seek information or support, or to supplement (or as an alternative to) medical advice relating to health (Atkinson et al, 2009; Mosa et al, 2012; Popovac & Roomaney, 2022). Studies show that 68% of German internet users (Nölke et al, 2015) and 71% of American internet users report engaging in online health information searches (Fox & Duggan, 2013).…”