Factors affecting online health information-seeking behavior in young and middle-aged patients with stroke

This study aimed to explore the characteristics of online health information-seeking behavior and the influencing factors among young and middle-aged Chinese patients with stroke. The participants of this study were 230 young and middle-aged patients with stroke enrolled from a Class III Grade A hospital in Shandong Province, China, using convenience sampling from October 31, 2023, to May 15, 2024. Based on relevant theories and literature reviews, a self-administered questionnaire was used to analyze the influencing factors regarding six aspects: general demographic characteristics, disease factors, psychological factors, environmental factors, information factors, and information technology factors. Univariate, Correlation, and multivariate analyses were conducted to explore the factors affecting online health information-seeking behavior. The results showed that age, literacy level, stroke course, hospitalizations, treatment methods, number of combined chronic diseases, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, e-health literacy, self-efficacy, perceived benefit, health anxiety, quality of information, social influence, perceived risk, and privacy of information were all factors that influenced the online health information-seeking behavior in young and middle-aged patients with stroke. Age, perceived risk, and information privacy were negatively associated with online health information-seeking behavior, whereas the other variables were positively correlated. This study provides scientific insights into the intervention of online health information-seeking behavior in young and middle-aged patients with stroke and contributes to the enhancement of online health information literacy.