Factors Associated With E-mail and Internet Use for Health Information and Communications Among Australians and New Zealanders

Abstract

Research into the use of e-mail and the Internet for health information and communications has predominantly hailed from North America and European Union countries. By drawing on an Australian and New Zealand survey sample (n = 406) of health Internet users, this article expands the field. It explores factors associated with a series of e-mail and Internet use behaviors including use of e-mail to communicate with doctors, presenting Internet information to doctors, perceptions of Internet information reliability, and checking of web site credentials. Regression results reveal a digital divide within the Internet using population; that those who e-mail doctors believe this improves communications; that more frequent Internet searchers had higher odds of finding information not previously provided by their doctor, and of taking Internet information to their doctor; that those expressing difficulty communicating with doctors had higher odds of believing Internet information to be more useful; and that older respondents were more likely to perceive Internet information to be reliable, yet less likely to check web site provider credentials. Implications of these findings are discussed.