Who is More Likely to Use the Internet for Health Behavior Change? A Cross-Sectional Survey of Internet Use Among Smokers and Nonsmokers Who Are Orthopedic Trauma Patients

Sam McCrabb; Amanda L Baker; John Attia; Zsolt J Balogh; Natalie Lott; Kerrin Palazzi; Justine Naylor; Ian A Harris; Christopher Doran; Johnson George; Luke Wolfenden; Eliza Skelton; Billie Bonevski

doi:10.2196/mental.7435

Who is More Likely to Use the Internet for Health Behavior Change? A Cross-Sectional Survey of Internet Use Among Smokers and Nonsmokers Who Are Orthopedic Trauma Patients

JMIR Ment Health. 2017 May 30;4(2):e18. doi: 10.2196/mental.7435.

Authors

Sam McCrabb¹, Amanda L Baker¹, John Attia^{1

2

3}, Zsolt J Balogh^{1

4}, Natalie Lott⁴, Kerrin Palazzi², Justine Naylor^{5

6}, Ian A Harris^{5

6}, Christopher Doran⁷, Johnson George⁸, Luke Wolfenden^{1

9}, Eliza Skelton¹, Billie Bonevski¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
² Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton, Australia.
³ Department of General Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, Australia.
⁴ Department of Traumatology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, Australia.
⁵ Whitlam Orthopaedic Research Centre, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, Australia.
⁶ South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Liverpool, Australia.
⁷ School of Human, Health and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, Brisbane, Australia.
⁸ Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Parkville, Australia.
⁹ Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, Australia.

Abstract

Background: eHealth presents opportunities to provide population groups with accessible health interventions, although knowledge about Internet access, peoples' interest in using the Internet for health, and users' characteristics are required prior to eHealth program development.

Objective: This study surveyed hospital patients to examine rates of Internet use, interest in using the Internet for health, and respondent characteristics related to Internet use and interest in using the Internet for health. For patients who smoke, preferences for types of smoking cessation programs for use at home and while in hospital were also examined.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was used to survey 819 orthopedic trauma patients (response rate: 72.61%, 819/1128) from two public hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Logistic regressions were used to examine associations between variables.

Results: A total of 72.7% (574/790) of respondents had at least weekly Internet access and more than half (56.6%, 357/631) reported interest in using the Internet for health. Odds of at least weekly Internet usage were higher if the individual was born overseas (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.27-3.82, P=.005), had a tertiary education (OR 3.75, 95% CI 2.41-5.84, P<.001), or was a nonsmoker (OR 3.75, 95% CI 2.41-5.84, P<.001). Interest in using the Internet for health increased with high school (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.09-3.15, P=.02) or tertiary education (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.66-3.70, P<.001), and if household incomes were more than AUS $100,000 (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.25-4.97, P=.009). Older individuals were less interested in using the Internet for health (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99, P<.001).

Conclusions: Online interventions may be a potential tool for health care in this hospitalized population.

Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12614001147673; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=366829&isReview=true (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6qg26u3En).

Keywords: Internet; eHealth; health; health care; orthopedic trauma; smoking.

©Sam McCrabb, Amanda L Baker, John Attia, Zsolt J Balogh, Natalie Lott, Kerrin Palazzi, Justine Naylor, Ian A Harris, Christopher Doran, Johnson George, Luke Wolfenden, Eliza Skelton, Billie Bonevski. Originally published in JMIR Mental Health (http://mental.jmir.org), 30.05.2017.