Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jan 6, 2024
Date Accepted: Feb 20, 2025
Online Health Information-Seeking Behaviors among the Chongqing Population: A Cross-sectional Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
With the rapid development of the internet and its widespread use, online health information-seeking OHIS has become a popular and important research topic. Various benefits of online health information seeking (OHIS) are well recognized. However, OHIS seems to be a mixed blessing. Research on OHIS has been reported in Western countries and in developed regions in eastern China. studies on the population in the western region of China, such as Chongqing, are still limited.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence, common topics, and common methods of health information seeking and the factors influencing these behaviors among the Chongqing population.
Methods:
This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from September to October 2021. A web-based questionnaire was sent to users aged 15 years and older in Chongqing using a Chinese online survey hosting site (N=14466). Data on demographics, online health information resources, and health topics were collected. Factors that may influence health literacy were assessed using the chi‑square test and multivariate logistic regression models.
Results:
A total of 67.1% (9704/14466) of the participants had online health information-seeking behaviors. Participants who were younger, lived in urban areas, had a higher educational level, and worked as medical staff or teachers were more likely to engage in online health information seeking, while ethnic minorities and farmers were less likely to seek health information online. Among the Chongqing population, the most common topic searched on the Internet was health behavior and literacy (87.4%), and the most popular method of seeking health information online was through WeChat (77.0%).
Conclusions:
Online health information seeking is prevalent in Chongqing. Further research could be performed based on the identified influencing factors and high-priority and effective ways of improving the online health information-seeking behaviors of the Chongqing population.
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