Measuring online health-seeking behaviour: Construction and initial validation of a new scale

OBJECTIVES Online health-seeking behaviour (OHSB) such as information- and support-seeking encompasses a range of motivations and outcomes, but few studies consider the nuances of OHSB. The current study aimed to (1) develop and provide an initial validation of an OHSB measure, and (2) explore the role of demographic variables in OHSB among adult Internet users. DESIGN The study was a quantitative, cross-sectional online survey. METHODS The study consistent of two data collection waves, including 451 general Internet users (aged 18-73) and 204 online health groups users (aged 19-78) who completed online questionnaires. RESULT Exploratory Factor Analysis and Item Analysis in the two samples resulted in a final 37-item measure. The scale comprises three distinct factors: Support seeking (α = .97); information seeking (α = .89); and the Internet as a supplement or alternative to offline medical care (α = .88). Multiple regression analyses indicated that younger age, a higher number of people living in the household, and presence of a chronic condition significantly predicted all three aspects of OHSB. Poorer perceived health also predicted support-seeking online, while being male, employed and a general Internet user (vs. online health group member) also predicted using the Internet as a supplement or alternative to offline medical care. CONCLUSION The study presents a useful scale for future research to explore more complex psychosocial, contextual and health-related variables as potential contributors to health-seeking in the online domain.