Table 2 Use of the Internet for health information seeking: multivariate logistic regression (Number of observations = 1931)
% of Internet users | aOR* | 95% CI | P** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gender | < 0.0001 | |||
Men | 49.0 | 1 | - | |
Women | 51.0 | 1.64 | 1.29–2.07 | |
Age group (years) | < 0.001 | |||
> 59 | 10.6 | 1 | - | |
45–59 | 22.8 | 1.54 | 1.01–2.36 | |
30–44 | 36.2 | 1.81 | 1.19–2.75 | |
< 30 | 30.4 | 2.73 | 1.71–4.38 | |
Level of education | 0.001 | |||
None/Primary | 1.4 | 1 | - | |
Secondary | 32.5 | 1.47 | 0.60–3.60 | |
Postsecondary | 66.1 | 2.39 | 0.97–5.85 | |
Monthly household income (€/CU) | 0.020 | |||
1st quartile | 25.6 | 1 | - | |
2nd quartile | 24.5 | 1.62 | 1.17–2.24 | |
3rd quartile | 24.8 | 1.59 | 1.10–2.29 | |
4th quartile | 25.1 | 1.39 | 0.94–2.05 | |
Social integration | < 0.001 | |||
Isolated | 12.0 | 1 | - | |
Helped | 4.9 | 1.51 | 0.79–2.88 | |
Integrated | 83.1 | 2.31 | 1.54–3.47 | |
Lives in a couple relationship | 0.020 | |||
No | 37.8 | 1 | - | |
Yes | 62.2 | 1.35 | 1.05–1.73 | |
Current health problem(s) | 0.007 | |||
No | 34.9 | 1 | - | |
Yes | 65.1 | 1.44 | 1.11–1.87 | |
Relative with current health problem(s) | 0.002 | |||
No | 48.3 | 1 | - | |
Yes | 51.7 | 1.44 | 1.14–1.82 | |
Perception of mental health | 0.024 | |||
Good | 18.7 | 1 | - | |
Poor | 81.3 | 1.41 | 1.05–1.91 | |
Worries about health more than others | 0.040 | |||
No | 75.9 | 1 | - | |
Yes | 24.1 | 1.32 | 1.01–1.71 | |
Difficulties understanding information from GP | 0.049 | |||
No | 52.2 | 1 | - | |
Yes | 47.8 | 1.27 | 1.01–1.60 | |
Frequency of Internet use | < 0.0001 | |||
Low | 22.2 | 1 | - | |
High | 77.8 | 2.96 | 2.15–4.07 | |
Home connection | 0.014 | |||
No | 21.4 | 1 | - | |
Yes | 78.6 | 1.47 | 1.08–1.99 | |
Years with access | < 0.001 | |||
< 1 | 12.9 | 1 | - | |
1–3 | 28.9 | 1.37 | 0.94–2.02 | |
4–6 | 35.7 | 1.63 | 1.11–2.41 | |
> 7 | 22.5 | 2.45 | 1.60–3.76 |