Health information exposure from information and communication technologies and its associations with health behaviors: Population-based survey.
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Abstract
Health information and communication technologies ICTs are increasingly used but little is known about routine exposure to health information from ICTs and its associations with health behaviors A territory wide population based dual landline and mobile telephone survey was conducted in 2016 in Hong Kong where smartphone ownership and Internet access are among the most prevalent easiest and fastest in the world Health information exposure from traditional sources television radio newspaper magazine Internet websites social media sites and instant messaging IM and information on smoking alcohol consumption and physical activity were recorded Prevalence was weighted by age sex and education level of the general population Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association of health information exposure with smoking and alcohol consumption whilst multivariable linear regression was used to assess the association with frequency of moderate and vigorous physical activity days week Of 3063 respondents most 71 6 were often or sometimes exposed to health information from traditional sources followed by Internet websites 40 9 social media sites 40 7 and IM 27 0 Respondents with lower education and household income were less frequently exposed to health information from Internet websites social media sites and IM all P Under 0 001 Health information exposure from IM was associated with being never smokers and more frequent moderate and vigorous physical activity all P for trend Under0 05 Health information exposure from IM was least frequent but associated with healthier behaviors Further public health education campaigns can consider using IM to deliver information particularly to disadvantaged groups