Perceived Efficiency Outcomes, Sources and Awareness of Online Health Information among the Elderly during COVID-19

Gizell Green, Riki Tesler and Cochava Sharon
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Gizell Green: Nursing Department, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
Riki Tesler: Department of Health Systems Management, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
Cochava Sharon: Nursing Department, School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-10

Abstract: The Internet and social media are crucial platforms for health information. Factors such as the efficiency of online health information, the outcomes of seeking online health information and the awareness of reliable sources have become increasingly important for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine differences between elderly individuals’ income above and below the average monthly wage in relation to their online health information efficiency and the outcomes of seeking online health information; to evaluate types of online information sources with online health information efficiency and the outcomes of seeking online health information; and to explore online health information efficiency as a mediator between health status and awareness of online sources. A cross-sectional study design was conducted with 336 elderly participants age 65 or older. The participants volunteered to complete a questionnaire. No differences were found between the two groups regarding efficiency in retrieving health information from official online health sites and Google. Perceived efficiency mediated health status and awareness of online sources. In these challenging times, it is important to provide a tailor-made education strategy plan for reliable sources of online health information for the elderly, in order to enhance their technology safety skills. It is also important to explore other mediating variables between health status and awareness of online sources.

Keywords: online health information; elderly; COVID-19; perceived efficiency; awareness of online sources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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