Page 101 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
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nd that respondents who reported having a disease were more likely to use is the ict use for health purposes in slovenia linked to better health? 99
the Internet for health information (Wynn et al. 2020). In several other stud-
ies, poorer health has similarly been positively associated with the frequency of
health-related use of the Internet. A U.S. survey of 21-year-olds and older found
that those with two, three, or more chronic illnesses were more likely to use the
Internet to seek health information (Wagner et al. 2004). Those with poorer
subjective health also more frequently search for health information on the In-
ternet (Baker et al. 2003). Similar findings were detected in a study of type 1 and
type 2 diabetes; ICT use for health purposes was more common among those
with poorer self-rated health (Hansen et al. 2019).
It needs to be noted that the results of the studies are not entirely consis-
tent. In the aforementioned Norwegian study, for example, self-rated health
did not prove to be statistically significantly related to the frequency of use of
eHealth services (Wynn et al. 2020). In a study of seven European countries,
Andreassen and colleagues (2007) found that respondents with poorer sub-
jective health reported less frequent health-related Internet use. On the other
hand, those with long-term chronic illness or disability reported more frequent
health-related Internet use.
Research in some countries indicates that individuals with poorer health
use the Internet for health purposes more frequently than their healthier coun-
terparts. We examine whether this also holds in Slovenia. We also analysed the
potential moderating role of age for the relationship between the frequency of
seeking health information and an individual’s subjective health status.
Methods
In the present study, we examined the frequency of searching for health-related
information online and in smartphone apps. We compared three age groups:
young people (18–34 years), adults (35–64 years) and the elderly (aged 65 and
over).
We analysed a representative sample of the population of Slovenia us-
ing the Slovenian Public Opinion survey (Hafner Fink et al. 2019). Survey da-
ta were collected between 14 March 2018 and 12 June 2018. The sample included
individuals over 18 living in private households, regardless of their nationality,
citizenship, language or legal status in Slovenia. We performed bivariate anal-
yses with chi-square tests and multivariate analysis.
The following dependent variable was examined: “How often did you
search for health-related information online or in apps?” (1 = never; 2 = less
than once a month; 3 = at least once a month; 4 = at least once a week; 5 = ev-
ery day; 6 = almost every day several times a day). Due to the uneven distribu-
tion of answers, values from 4 to 6 were recoded into a single category (at least
once a week).
We included several control variables in our multivariate model. Specif-
ically, we included age, gender, and partner status. Respondents’ age in years
the Internet for health information (Wynn et al. 2020). In several other stud-
ies, poorer health has similarly been positively associated with the frequency of
health-related use of the Internet. A U.S. survey of 21-year-olds and older found
that those with two, three, or more chronic illnesses were more likely to use the
Internet to seek health information (Wagner et al. 2004). Those with poorer
subjective health also more frequently search for health information on the In-
ternet (Baker et al. 2003). Similar findings were detected in a study of type 1 and
type 2 diabetes; ICT use for health purposes was more common among those
with poorer self-rated health (Hansen et al. 2019).
It needs to be noted that the results of the studies are not entirely consis-
tent. In the aforementioned Norwegian study, for example, self-rated health
did not prove to be statistically significantly related to the frequency of use of
eHealth services (Wynn et al. 2020). In a study of seven European countries,
Andreassen and colleagues (2007) found that respondents with poorer sub-
jective health reported less frequent health-related Internet use. On the other
hand, those with long-term chronic illness or disability reported more frequent
health-related Internet use.
Research in some countries indicates that individuals with poorer health
use the Internet for health purposes more frequently than their healthier coun-
terparts. We examine whether this also holds in Slovenia. We also analysed the
potential moderating role of age for the relationship between the frequency of
seeking health information and an individual’s subjective health status.
Methods
In the present study, we examined the frequency of searching for health-related
information online and in smartphone apps. We compared three age groups:
young people (18–34 years), adults (35–64 years) and the elderly (aged 65 and
over).
We analysed a representative sample of the population of Slovenia us-
ing the Slovenian Public Opinion survey (Hafner Fink et al. 2019). Survey da-
ta were collected between 14 March 2018 and 12 June 2018. The sample included
individuals over 18 living in private households, regardless of their nationality,
citizenship, language or legal status in Slovenia. We performed bivariate anal-
yses with chi-square tests and multivariate analysis.
The following dependent variable was examined: “How often did you
search for health-related information online or in apps?” (1 = never; 2 = less
than once a month; 3 = at least once a month; 4 = at least once a week; 5 = ev-
ery day; 6 = almost every day several times a day). Due to the uneven distribu-
tion of answers, values from 4 to 6 were recoded into a single category (at least
once a week).
We included several control variables in our multivariate model. Specif-
ically, we included age, gender, and partner status. Respondents’ age in years
