• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.119-127
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• 2018

Background: This study aimed to examine (1) the patterns of online health information search with respect to seeking and scanning, and (2) how online search, along with eHealth literacy, predicts perceived information usefulness in the context of diet and weight control. Methods: Online survey was conducted with 299 adults from the consumer panel recruited for the purpose of quality assessment of the Korean National Health Information Portal in 2016. We conducted paired sample t-test and multiple logistic regression to address the research questions. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 24.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) and SAS ver. 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Results: Of the respondents, 38.8% were 'high seek-high scanners,' 35.8% were 'low seek-low scanners,' 13.0% were 'high seek-low scanners,' and 12.4% were 'low seek-high scanners.' eHealth literacy was a significant, positive predictor of online information scanning (odds ratio [OR], 2.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-4.29), but not for online information seeking (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.00-3.05). With respect to perceived usefulness of online information seeking, online seeking (OR, 4.90; 95% CI, 2.19-11.00) and eHealth literacy (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.11-4.75) were significant predictors. Perceived usefulness of online scanning had a significant association with online scanning (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.08-5.22), but not with eHealth literacy. Conclusion: To increase the effectiveness of the health policy for online information search and related outcomes in the context of diet and weight control, it is important to develop education programs promoting eHealth literacy.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.29-42
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• 2016

Performing an online health search is a popular activity conducted on the Internet. Research studies from developed countries provide information on source used, type of search performed and devices used to perform the search. However, the same cannot be said about the online health information searching scene in South East Asia. Online health information searching is gaining popularity in South East Asia. Citizens in these countries are turning to the Internet to obtain health information quickly. Current research studies pertaining to online health information searching in South East Asian is limited, particularly relating to search experiences of South East Asian health searchers. Search experience is pertinent as it could deter or encourage the possibility of conducting future health searches. In this research study, a user study was conducted to describe the online search experience of South East Asian health searchers. A face to face interview with 50 participants was conducted. The interview was audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Results indicate participants have positive and negative search experiences. In some cases, post search outcomes influenced the search experience. Results of this research study contribute to the growing domain of knowledge in relation to online health information searching. Results of this study also provide an understanding pertaining to the search experience of South East Asian online health searchers.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2012

Previous research on online health (e-health) information was primarily focused on consumer information search behavior and information quality. Although studies addressing online information quality have flourished, they have yet to thoroughly examine whether consumers actually use the information they search. The purspose of this study suggests a conceptual framework that examines the potential antecedents of a consumers' willingness to depend on e-health information as an indicator of the consumer's trust of the provided e-health information. The proposed antecedents include healthcare product involvement, online skill level, perceived quality, and credibility of the source. Using structural equation modeling on online survey data, seven hypotheses, which describe the relationships between the variables of the model, were tested. The results indicate that consumer willingness to depend on provided e-health information was significantly influenced by the consumers' perceived quality and credibility of specific e-health information. Consumer involvement in healthcare and their online skill-level, respectively, also positively related to perceived quality and credibility regarding e-health information.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was to evaluate the quality of online health information related to infants and preschoolers accessible through mobile applications and websites. Methods: Using combinations of the terms 'infant', 'preschooler', and 'health' as the main keyword or categories, the researchers searched relevant mobile applications and websites in Korean application markets and popular search engines. Twelve mobile application and 14 websites were finally selected according to our inclusion criteria and evaluated using DISCERN instrument. Results: The overall quality score of online health information available through mobile applications was 2.00 of 5 points, the reliability score was 2.15, and the quality score was 1.76. The overall quality score of online health information available through websites was 2.29, the reliability score was 2.40, and the quality score was 1.82. Conclusion: The quality of online health information related to young children was found to be low and to have potentially significant drawbacks according to DISCERN criteria. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a system to evaluate and regulate the quality of online health information. Additionally, factors that readers can use to judge the quality of health information, such as references and the benefit versus risks of the information, should be provided.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.85-94
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• 2017

The paper examines critical factors affecting consumer behavioral intentions in accepting online health communication through social networking sites. Unlike recent research under this topic, the paper assimilates some components of service quality dimensions and consumer behavior theories. The paper employs factor analysis and structural equation modelling analysis with latent variables to identify critical factors from the survey data collected from Korean consumers. The results of the study identifies three major constructs: consumer needs for health information, the perceived value of tangible attributes of health information providers, and the perceived value of intangible attributes of health information providers. The results show that consumer needs for health information and the tangible and intangible attributes of health information providers should be considered as important antecedents of accepting online health communication through social networking sites. The findings suggest that the success of online health communication via social networking sites largely depends on the tangible and intangible attributes of health information providers.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.77-94
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• 2011

Since the general quality of life has been improving, people have become interested in "well-being." The widespread acceptance of the importance of "well-being" to quality of life has encouraged people to take more interest in getting health information online when they need it. Expansive use of online health information suggests that individual characteristics (i.e., gender and other traits), Website features, and perceived trust are related to the primary concern for many online health information consumers. This study examines whether familiarity, perceived security, and reputation of health information on various Websites influence the relationship of trust and intention to use by gender. These research results will contribute to the adoption of online health information by gender and, moreover, will provide companies with an understanding of key characteristics of consumers who use emoticons and provide useful implications for marketing strategies to current and future consumers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.933-936
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• 2016

Online social network technologies have become important to health and apply in most health care areas. Particularly in cancer care, because it is a disease which involves many social aspects, online social networks can be very useful. Use of online social networks provides a suitable platform for cancer patients and families to present and share information about their medical conditions, address their educational needs, support decision making, and help to coping with their disease and improve their own outcomes. Like any other new technologies, online social networks, along with many benefits, have some negative effects such as violation of privacy and publication of incorrect information. However, if these effects are managed properly, they can empower patients to manage cancer through changing behavioral patterns and enhancing the quality of cancer patients lives This paper explains some application of online social networks in the cancer patient care process. It also covers advantages and disadvantages of related technologies.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 2006

The Web is an important source of information for health care consumers, and the resources they find on the Web have a direct affect on their health outcomes. Despite the enormous benefits of online health care, the quality of health information on the Internet is an area of increasing concern. Therefore, there's a need to develop quality assessment tools that can filter out poor quality online health information. The purpose of this study is to explore the critical attributes for assessing website quality and for developing quality assessment measurements. We completed three focus group discussions with 24 participants that were administered by a moderator and based on specifically focused group questions. The results suggest that the most important quality criteria, as identified by the respondents, were related to issues of credibility and accuracy. To determine the credibility of Internet health information, the respondents stated one must consider the following: the information source, disclosure of the author's or organization's credentials/qualifications, disclosure of ownership and the updating of the content. For the accuracy of content, elements such as a statement of purpose, evidence-based information, relevance and completeness should be considered. Interactivity, accessibility, and design were additional quality criteria.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.84-89
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• 2021

Medical tests are very important part of the health monitoring process. It is performed for various reasons like diagnosing diseases, determining medications effectiveness, etc. Due to that, patients should be able to read and understand the available online tests and results in order to take proper decisions regarding their health condition. In fact, people are varying in their educational level and health backgrounds that make providing such information in an easily readable format by the majority of people considered as a challenge in the health domain since ever. This paper describes the MTReadable corpus which constructed for evaluating the readability of online medical tests. It covered 32 basic periodic check-up tests with over 36k words. These tests information are annotated and labelled based on three readability levels which are easy, neutral and difficult by three non-specialists native Arabic speakers. This paper contributes to enriching the Arabic health research community with an investigation of the level of readability of online medical tests and to be a baseline for further complex health online reports and information.

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Nowadays, with the development of the internet and e-commerce, opening tea shops online has become an increasing choice for selling tea. However, the product page information of many online tea shops cannot effectively attract consumers, resulting in their profits being compromised. To investigate this, we conducted this paper and hope to provide effective suggestions. This paper is based on 229 questionnaires and selects the product page information of online tea shops as the research object. Using the four dimensions of perceived value theory as independent variables with consumer purchase intention as the dependent variable. A structural equation model was constructed to analyze the role of the perceived value of product page information in online tea shops how influencing consumers' purchase intentions. It was found that information on the perceived functional value of online tea shops did not have a significant positive effect on consumer purchase intentions. However, information on the perceived monetary value, perceived social value, and perceived emotional value of online tea shops had a significant positive impact on consumers' purchase intentions. Based on the above conclusions, online tea shops should focus on the expression of product page information to enhance the level of consumers' perceived value of tea products, thereby enhancing their intention to purchase tea products.