Table 4 The multinomial logistic regression results of the timing of online medical information seeking. (Base outcome = before and after the visit, n = 1122)

Gender (Ref^c: Male)

0.68

0.01

(0.51–0.89)

0.53

0.01

(0.33–0.86)

Age (Ref: 18–29)

 30–40

0.79

0.23

(0.54–1.16)

1.07

0.84

(0.56–2.06)

 41–55

0.92

0.73

(0.56–1.51)

0.65

0.36

(0.26–1.63)

 56–65

1.13

0.87

(0.28–4.48)

9.03

0.01

(2.18–37.33)

  > 65

4.50

0.19

(0.47–43.44)

N/A^d

1.00

N/A

Health status

0.88

0.16

(0.73–1.05)

1.11

0.51

(0.81–1.53)

Marital status (Ref: Married)

 Single

1.14

0.50

(0.78–1.66)

1.22

0.55

(0.63–2.35)

 Divorced

1.14

0.79

(0.45–2.88)

N/A

0.99

N/A

 Widowed

N/A

0.99

N/A

1.05

1.00

N/A

Education (Ref: ≤ Primary school)

 Junior high school

2.36

0.25

(0.55–10.20)

2.54

0.42

(0.26–24.52)

 Senior high school

2.21

0.27

(0.53–9.20)

2.57

0.40

(0.28–23.58)

 College graduate

1.56

0.53

(0.39–6.29)

0.96

0.97

(0.11–8.52)

 Postgraduate

0.80

0.77

(0.18–3.54)

0.36

0.42

(0.03–4.30)

Monthly income (Ref: ≤ 1800 CNY)

 1801-4600CNY

0.67

0.09

(0.42–1.07)

1.10

0.83

(0.47–2.56)

 4601-8000CNY

0.76

0.26

(0.48–1.22)

1.20

0.68

(0.51–2.83)

 8001–17,000 CNY

0.72

0.21

(0.44–1.20)

0.71

0.50

(0.27–1.90)

  > 17,000 CNY

0.63

0.17

(0.33–1.22)

1.38

0.56

(0.46–4.18)

Internet use (Ref: Inactive)

1.10

0.59

(0.78–1.56)

0.66

0.13

(0.39–1.13)

City (Ref: Hangzhou)

 Jinhua

1.19

0.33

(0.84–1.70)

1.38

0.30

(0.76–2.50)

 Lishui

1.35

0.12

(0.92–1.97)

1.16

0.67

(0.60–2.24)

Hospital type (Ref: Primary)

 Secondary B

0.68

0.38

(0.28–1.61)

0.41

0.22

(0.10–1.68)

 Secondary A

0.70

0.36

(0.32–1.50)

0.46

0.22

(0.13–1.59)

 Tertiary B

1.02

0.96

(0.52–1.99)

0.61

0.35

(0.22–1.73)

 Tertiary A

0.74

0.34

(0.41–1.37)

0.57

0.23

(0.23–1.43)

Constant

1.08

0.93

(0.21–5.39)

0.28

0.32

(0.02–3.47)