Mobile-health information searching behaviors and its influencing factors for patients with cancer / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the behavior and influencing factors of mobile health (m-Health) information searching among patients with cancer, aiming to provide evidence for the provision of medical health information.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted.A total of 535 patients with cancer were recruited from a cancer hospital in Zhejiang Province from September to December 2017.Measurement tools included the demographic information questionnaire, mobile health information search behavior questionnaire, mobile health information search environment questionnaire, cancer needs questionnaires-short form and ehealth literacy scale.SPSS 26.0 was used for descriptive statistical analysis, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis.Results:The total score of mobile health information search behavior of cancer patients was (60.84±9.60), and 66.5% of participants reported that they "never" or "occasionally" searched health information via mobile.The total score of information needs was (80.99±27.86), electronic health literacy was (26.54±7.85), mobile health information search environment was (8.00±2.86). m-Health information search behavior was positively correlated with information needs ( r=0.251, P<0.01), ehealth literacy ( r=0.538, P<0.01), and m-Health information search environment ( r=0.267, P<0.01). The stepwise regression analysis revealed that the place of residence, working status, income level, ehealth literacy, mobile health information search environment and information needs were statistically significant associated with the m-Health information searching behavior among cancer patients, which accounted for 39.3% of the total variance ( F=12.151, P<0.01). Compared with patients living in the central cities, those living in the small and medium-sized cities( β=0.092, P=0.031) had higher score in m-Health information behavior.Compared with patients working on normal schedule, those took sick days ( β=0.156, P=0.017) and working fewer hours ( β=0.138, P=0.002) had higher score m-Health information behavior.Compared with patients with monthly income of 1 000-3 000 yuan ( β=-0.194, P=0.002), those with monthly income less than 1 000 yuan had higher score in m-Health information behavior.The ehealth literacy ( β=0.425, P=0.000), mobile health information search environment ( β=0.179, P=0.000) and information needs ( β=0.091, P=0.027) were positive influencing factors of m-Health information search behavior. Conclusion:Patients with cancer did not report high m-Health information search behavior.Place of residence, working status, income level, ehealth literacy, m-Health information search environment and information demand were the influencing factors of m-Health information search behavior among patients with cancer.