The Open Communication Journal
2008, 2 : 156-163Published online 2008 October 10. DOI: 10.2174/1874916X00802010156
Publisher ID: TOCOMMJ-2-156
The Use of E-Health Information and Health Behavior Change: The Role of Perceived Health Status and Types of E-Health Information Use
School of Communication, 52
Hyochangwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul,
Korea 140-742 , Korea.
ABSTRACT
This study assessed the relationship between the amount of e-health information use and changes in health behavior, with an emphasis placed on self-perceived health status and different types of e-health information use (purposeful, wary, and listserv). The results of the study indicated that people with low perceived health status were more likely to spend time online searching for health information. Additionally, the findings indicated that changes in health behavior as a result of e-health information use were most likely to occur in people with lower perceived health status in the purposeful e-health type. The implications of these findings for future research are also discussed herein.