JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

E-health services may help people obtain information and manage their health. E-health services are gaining attention as technology improves and increasing strains are put on the traditional health services. We present findings from the first representative large-scale population-based study of e-health use in Norway.

Objective:

To examine the use of e-health in a population above 40 years, predictors of e-health use, and predictors of taking action following use of the e-health services.

Methods:

Data were collected through a questionnaire given to participants in the Tromsø 7 population study. The study involved a representative sample of the Norwegian population aged above 40 years. A subset of the larger questionnaire was related specifically to e-health use. Data were analyzed by means of logistic regression analyses.

Results:

Approximately half (52.7%) of the 18,497 respondents had used some form of e-health during the last year. Sixty point two percent of the 9,701 who had responded to a question about taking some form of action based on information gained from using e-health services had done so. Being a woman (OR=1.58, 95%CI=1.47-1.68), of younger age (40-49 year age group, OR=4.28, 95%CI=3.63-5.04), with higher education (tertiary/long, OR=3.77, 95%CI=3.40-4.19), and having higher income (>1 million NOK, OR=2.19, 95% CI=1.77-2.70) all positively predicted using e-health. Not living with a spouse (OR=1.14, 95%CI=1.04-1.25), having seen a GP in the last year (OR=1.66, 95%CI=1.53-1.80), and having had some disease (such as heart disease, cancer, asthma, etc.) (OR=1.29, 95%CI=1.18-1.41) also positively predicted e-health use. Self-rated health status did not significantly influence e-health use. Taking some action following e-health use was predicted by being a woman (OR=1.16, 95%CI=1.07-1.27), being younger (40-49 year age group, OR=1.72, 95%CI=1.34-2.22), having higher education (tertiary/long, OR=1.65, 95%CI=1.42-1.92), having seen a GP in the last year (OR=1.58, 95%CI=1.41-1.77), and ever having had a disease (such as heart disease, cancer or asthma) (OR=1.26, 95%CI=1.14-1.39).

Conclusions:

E-health appears to be an important supplement to traditional health services especially for the more resourceful. Being a woman, younger, having a higher education, having had a disease, and having seen a GP in the last year all positively predicted using the Internet to get health information and taking some action based on this information.