eHealth Literacy, Online Help-Seeking Behavior, and Willingness to Participate in mHealth Chronic Disease Research Among African Americans, Florida, 2014–2015
ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 13 — November 17, 2016
PEER REVIEWED
Figure 1. Comparison of mean eHealth Literacy Scale scores for participants who did conduct or did not conduct online searches for information in the previous 12 months, Florida, 2014–2015. A convenience sample of 881 African American adults in north central Florida were surveyed. Overall scores for the 8-item scale range from 8 to 40. All differences were significant (P < .01 for all). Error bars indicate standard deviation. Abbreviations: HIV/AIDS, human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS.
| Health Topic | Conducted Online Search, Mean Score (SD) | Did Not Conduct Online Search, Mean Score (SD) |
|---|---|---|
| Health and wellness | 32.0 (6.9) | 28.5 (8.4) |
| Nutrition/dieting | 32.2 (6.3) | 28.3 (8.7) |
| Medication use | 33.0 (5.7) | 29.1 (8.3) |
| Diabetes | 31.9 (6.8) | 30.0 (8.0) |
| Stress/anxiety/depression | 32.6 (5.9) | 29.8 (8.1) |
| Children’s health | 32.8 (6.7) | 30.0 (7.9) |
| Heart disease | 32.7 (6.6) | 30.0 (7.9) |
| Cancer | 33.0 (5.6) | 29.9 (8.0) |
| Sexually transmitted infections | 32.7 (5.6) | 30.0 (8.0) |
| Tobacco/alcohol/drugs | 32.3 (6.3) | 30.1 (7.9) |
| Asthma | 32.6 (6.3) | 30.1 (7.9) |
| HIV/AIDS | 33.0 (4.9) | 30.1 (7.9) |
Figure 2. Comparison of mean eHealth Literacy Scale scores for participants willing or not willing to participate in health research that uses apps or tools, Florida, 2014–2015. A convenience sample of 881 African American adults in north central Florida were surveyed. Overall scores for the 8-item scale range from 8 to 40. Error bars indicate standard deviation.
| Willingness to Participate in Health Research That Asks Participant to . . . | Willing, Mean Score (SD) | Not Willing, Mean Score (SD) |
|---|---|---|
| Wear a smartwatch/health tracking device | 30.9 (7.1) | 29.5 (8.7) |
| Download a health app | 31.5 (6.9) | 29.9 (8.6) |
| Enter data online | 31.7 (7.4) | 29.4 (7.9) |
| Participate in online forums/support groups/counseling | 31.1 (8.1) | 30.1 (7.6) |
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