Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

9-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Program

Data Analysis & Visualization

Advisor

Lisa Marie Rhody

Keywords

digital, health, internet, information, behavior, policy

Abstract

This longitudinal study draws on data from the Computer and Internet Use Supplement (CIUS) of the Current Population Survey (CPS) across 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021 and examines three domains of internet use for health-related purposes: seeking health information online, communicating with healthcare providers via digital platforms, and using electronic health monitoring devices to monitor and transmit health data. The study reveals a 10.60% increase in health-related internet use between 2015 and 2021 among all respondents. Communication with healthcare providers online increased from 21.71% in 2015 to 27.7% in 2021 (p < 0.001), while the use of electronic devices to monitor and transmit health data recorded the least growth of 3.15% in 2014 to 5.93% in 2021 (p < 0.001). Patient communication with a health service provider over the internet demonstrates the most significant increase of 3.74%. Furthermore, this study uncovers disparities between internet use among younger (aged 18-39) and older (aged 75 and older) adults, in which young adults were more likely to seek health information online. From the multivariable logistic regression, factors most likely to contribute to online information seeking include: higher educational attainment, access to multiple digital devices, and access to multiple internet sources.

The study highlights persistent digital divides, particularly among older adults, those with lower educational attainment, and residents of non-metropolitan areas. The study uncovers poor data collection practices such as the widespread use of proxies, exclusion of some persons such as the homeless, and gender binarization among others and recommends improved data collection to foster a better understanding of internet use for health-related purposes and digital health practices in general.

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