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The socio-technological context of health care wherein patient-consumer involvement is central increases the importance of examining the impact of Internet information on health-related attitudes and behavior. This paper examined the extent to which deployment of e-health information is associated with patient distrust and non-adherence. We examined the hypothesized associations in gender-stratified subsamples to uncover whether any differential patterns of associations exist among women and men. Our analyses allowed for estimation of significant covariate effects at the composite index and item level for both men and women while controlling for the moderation effect of race/ethnicity. Results indicate differential outcomes for patient distrust and non-adherence depending on socio-demographic characteristics. Findings suggest that it is not just health-related information that influences health-related behavior, but also mechanisms through which socio-demographic characteristics shape whether Internet use is associated with distrust and patient non-adherence. e-Health information consumers are overall less trustful and more likely to deviate from health care provider treatment. Non-adherence among those who consume e-health information is more pronounced for non-white women. Highly educated non-white men were more likely to diverge from their medical care provider's treatment recommendations than White men. Given the increasing diversification of the demographic profile of the U.S. population, understanding the dynamics though which health-related Internet use becomes racialized and gendered represents a critical contribution to the literature on Internet and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of online communication is transforming how older adults find social support with a community of peers who cope with similar health issues. This article explores whether participation in virtual health support groups demonstrates a significant interaction with users’ appraisal of their illness experience and predicts self-reappraisal among adults 50 years of age and older (N = 157). Hierarchical multiple regressions demonstrate the significance of the combined effect of virtual health support and its interaction with illness appraisal measures to predict the outcome variable of self-reappraisal. The results indicate that even though appraisal of cancer as a traumatic experience reduces positive self-reappraisal, those who appraised their illness to have been a traumatic experience perceived virtual support to be more influential on their sense of positive change after cancer. In contrast, perceived benefit of virtual support on positive self-appraisal is reduced if illness is appraised as an opportunity for personal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There has been a growing interest among researchers about the Internet-based social support. However, not much is known about whether electronic support is associated with subjectively reported patient health outcomes. This study examines variation in satisfaction with physical health status among users of self-help groups for patients with cancer (N = 350). The analytical approach of the study differs from previous work in that satisfaction with physical health is modelled not as a predictor, but as an outcome variable. The study tested the hypothesis that perceived ability to cope with cancer mediates the association between electronic support and health satisfaction. Path analyses using ordinary least squares multiple regressions showed that there is an indirect association between electronic support and health satisfaction via perceived ability to cope with cancer. Electronic support increased perception of control over cancer, which in turn led to higher levels of satisfaction with health status. External health locus of control was associated with greater benefits derived from electronic support. This article concludes that the evaluation of physical health status includes not only clinical indicators but also subjective assessment of coping ability. Thus, the cyber social context in which health perceptions are developed has important medical implications for patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article presents initial psychometric validation of an instrument developed to measure cyber informational and decisional empowerment. The article provides preliminary insights into the extent to which cyber patients view the digital environment of peer-based information and support as a resource for informed and empowered participation in self health care management.Methods: Data come from cancer patients (N = 350) who participated in the Study of Virtual Health Networks for Cancer Patients of the 21st Century. Data were first analyzed using exploratory factor analysis with principle component extraction and Varimax rotation. Age-based split-sample analysis (≥ 51 and ≤ 50) was performed on a subsample, which consisted of only women (N = 255), in order to cross-validate psychometric data obtained from the full sample. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using AMOS 19.0. to further validate the scale.Results: The composite scale is unidimensional with excellent internal consistency reliability. The highest average scores were obtained for informational empowerment items. The lowest average was for the item that measured empowerment to seek second opinion from additional health care professionals.Conclusions: The ability of this composite measure to provide information about the extent to which computer-connected patients view digital peer support as an empowerment tool makes it a valuable addition to the literature in health informatics, supportive cancer care, and health quality of life research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do women who seek psychosocial support on the Internet by participating in cancer peer support groups respond to the process of coping with cancer? The current study examines whether older women with cancer have different perceptions about and are influenced to a different extent by online peer support than younger women. The study also explores age-based variations in outlook on coping with cancer as a result of using online support. Separate multivariate regression models estimated the effects of covariates on (1) positive coping affect (PCA) (2) positive coping affect-hopeful (PCA-H), and (3) positive coping affect-proud (PCA-P). A stratified analysis examined variations within age-based subsamples (≥51 and ≤50). Positive coping affect includes feeling proud about coping with cancer from a position of strength and empowerment rather than being a victim and being hopeful for a healthier future postdiagnosis. Online support was found to increase PCA significantly. This finding is consistent across age groups but was more pronounced for older patients. The only exception is that younger women perceive more benefit from using online support in terms of feeling proud. As severity of the symptoms increased, though the younger women increased the amount of time they were online, the older women increased the number of groups they participated in. The study concludes that the Internet might be particularly helpful for older adults who feel helpless to cope with cancer in old age. Online peer support services may help improve the patients’ outlook on fighting with cancer and help them to feel more in control of their health. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Information and communication technologies have introduced new and impressive tools for information sharing and building computer-mediated knowledge repositories in a global context. Clinicians and researchers pay particular attention to technology as a promising tool to empower patients through self-health care management skills and to improve health care communication with providers. This represents a significant step in modern medicine of computer-integrated patient self-health care. This paper aims to examine perceived informational and decisional benefits of computer-mediated health and medical information, more specifically of cancer web-sites, and presents the results of two separate statistical models of perceived benefits. Multivariate hierarchical regression analyses showed that the frequency and time spent visiting medical web-sites are significant predictors of perceived benefits of computer-mediated knowledge. The results also indicated that computer-mediated medical information empowers health consumers to make informed decisions for their health care. The discussion section of the paper contextualizes the findings within the current sociomedical trends of self-health care and partnership with health providers. It is important to understand the perceived benefits of using computer-mediated medical knowledge, so that information and communication technologies can be targeted to educate patients to make informed decisions and to develop patient self-health-care management competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internet technology has become an informational resource for most health care consumers. Online information, discussion, and support groups, in the form of message boards, listservs, and chat rooms are emerging as parts of virtual self-health-care network. This paper examines the extent to which participation in online health discussion groups was reported to be helpful in increasing medical knowledge and in enhancing the participatory patient role of health care consumers in interaction with health care service professionals. Data for this study was collected from 350 patients who participated in Internet discussion groups for cancer patients. The findings of the study indicated the important impact of Internet health discussion groups on health care management practices as perceived by health care consumers, including empowerment through knowledge and proactive participation in cancer care management. This research contributes to understanding the patient perspective and assesses the perceived importance of Internet groups by health care consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-help culture, in the context of the U.S. medical system, demands proactive patient behavior as more responsibility for good health falls on the patient. The presence of health/medical information online alters the dynamics of medical encounters and transforms patients into reflexive consumers or consumer-patients who are engaged in personal health management. This paper examined whether using health information obtained from the Internet to manage personal health care (referred as e-health information consumerism) is associated with subjectively reported negative health outcomes in a representative sample of Internet users in the U.S. These outcomes are conceptualized as experiencing (a) adverse affect (feeling worried and anxious) and (b) health problem due to using Internet information. An online survey (n = 710) was conducted with study participants who were recruited from the largest online probability U.S. research panel developed by a non-profit academic research firm, Knowledge Networks. Analyses included multivariate regressions that included the statistical interactions between e-health information consumerism and the communicational and interactional aspects of medical encounters. Parallel models were tested in the gender-stratified subsamples. Results indicate that robust associations exist between e-health information consumerism and patient-reported health outcomes. Respondents who indicated greater satisfaction with medical communication reported lower averages on experiencing worry and a health problem due to e-health information consumerism. While e-health information consumerism is significantly associated with experiencing a self-reported health problem in both men and women, the association with adverse affect is significant only among women. The moderating role of patient satisfaction with medical communication is stronger among women. Interestingly, the moderating role of patient satisfaction with a medical interaction is stronger among respondents who reported higher averages on experiencing a health problem due to e-health information consumerism. e-Health information consumerism can translate into health benefits if the Internet information is deployed to promote a satisfactory medical partnership. • The growth of online health information challenges the parameters of the sick role. • Information pluralism encourages a consumerist orientation towards health. • The Internet may pose a health risk for physical and emotional well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]