Community desires for an online health information strategy

Abstract

Objective. To determine whether the community’s attitudes to components of a community eHealth strategy differ across three different socioeconomic groups.

Design. A survey questionnaire was designed and implemented across three different communities.

Participants and setting. Paper-based surveys were left in community organisations and local health practices in a low socioeconomic community on the outskirts of Ipswich, Queensland (n = 262), a mid-high socioeconomic community in the western suburbs of Brisbane (n = 256) and at a local university (n = 200).

Main outcome measures. Ascribed importance and comfort with proposed components of a community eHealth strategy.

Results. A community-oriented health website was perceived as useful in getting access to relevant health information. Those who were most comfortable with accessing online health information were those who were: experienced, had home internet access and were frequent internet users. The most important types of health information for the website were: information about the treatment of conditions, how to manage a chronic illness, how to stay healthy and patient clinical pathways. The low socioeconomic community had different information priorities – all categories were considered more important, particularly information about how the public system operates, local health support groups, and the roles of health professionals.

Conclusions. Different communities have different information demands but there is a strong demand for information which empowers community members to take control of their own health and become active participants in their health care. Tools such as a community health portal and patient clinical pathways should become more available.

What is known about the topic? There is existing literature discussing the impact of the internet and other eHealth strategies, in terms of the perceptions and preferences of different parts of the community. Many previous researchers have pointed to deficiencies in health literacy as a function of socioeconomic status and their negative consequences for health outcomes and participation in health care. The internet has been recommended as a useful way to increase health literacy, if users’ knowledge and skills and preferences are adequately assessed and catered for.

What does this paper add? This paper adds detail to what is known about the preferences of various parts of the community in terms of eHealth and online health information. It adds Australian data to our understanding of the role of the internet, and of community-based approaches to eHealth. Our results underscore the importance of understanding differences as a function of socioeconomic status, as well as knowledge of basic internet skills, health literacy, and online experience in determining patients’ preferences for and use of these means of accessing health information.

What are the implications for practitioners? In the context of the growing burden of chronic disease and the importance of lifestyle factors and risk factor modification, this research suggests that a concerted online health information approach is valuable and timely. In particular, the paper provides data as to different communities’ opinions of potential components of an online health information strategy.