Predictors of Internet use for health information among male and female Internet users: Findings from the 2009 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey

• Internet use for health information was investigated using the data from the 2009 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey.
• Similar but not identical factors were associated with Internet use for health information between male and female users.
• Different strategies may be needed for men and women to increase their engagement in health-related Internet use.

BackgroundThe Internet is an increasingly important source of health information for the general population. Both preventive health behavior and Internet use are known to be different between men and women. However, few studies have compared predictors of Internet use for health information between the sexes.ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence and predictors of Internet use for health information among male and female adult Internet users using data from a population-based survey in Taiwan.MethodsRespondents between the ages of 20–65 years were identified from the dataset of the 2009 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey. The outcome variable of the study, the utilization of the Internet for health information, was ascertained by asking whether the respondent had ever used the Internet to search for health information or obtain health services. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for men and women to evaluate factors associated with the use of Internet for health information.ResultsOf the 2741 adults aged 20–65 years who had ever used the Internet, 1766 (64.4%) of them had used it for health information or services. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that a higher educational level (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.60, P < 0.001), living alone (AOR = 1.77, P = 0.019), had exercised in the past two weeks (AOR = 2.41, P < 0.001), residing in city or urban district (AOR = 1.28, P = 0.049), with a perceived health status of extremely good, very good, or good (AOR = 1.34, P = 0.022), and had used Western medicine services in the past month (AOR = 1.51, P = 0.005) were significantly associated with health information use in male Internet users. On the other hand, age between 20–44.9 years (AOR = 1.87, P < 0.001), a higher educational level (AOR = 3.57, P < 0.001), being married (AOR = 1.68, P = 0.001), had exercised in the past two weeks (AOR = 1.56, P < 0.001), and had a mean monthly personal income of NT$ 20,000 and above were significant factors in female Internet users.ConclusionsThis secondary data analysis of a representative sample of Taiwan population revealed that a similar but not identical set of independent factors was associated with the use of Internet for health information between male and female Internet users.