Factors affecting patients’ online health information-seeking behaviours: The role of the Patient Health Engagement (PHE) Model

Objective To identify the variables affecting patients’ online health information-seeking behaviours by examining the relationships between patient participation in their healthcare and online health information-seeking behaviours. Methods A cross-sectional survey of Italian chronic patients (N = 352) was conducted on patient's online health information-seeking behaviours and patient participation-related variables. Structural equation modeling analysis was conducted to test the hypothesis. Results This study showed how the healthcare professionals’ ability to support chronic patients’ autonomy affect patients’ participation in their healthcare and patient's online health information-seeking behaviours. However, results do not confirm that the frequency of patients’ online health-information seeking behavior has an impact on their adherence to medical prescriptions. Conclusion Assuming a psychosocial perspective, we have discussed how patients’ engagement − conceived as the level of their emotional elaboration of the health condition − affects the patients’ ability to search for and manage online health information. Practice implication To improve the effectiveness of patients’ online health information-seeking behaviours and to enhance the effectiveness of technological interventions in this field, healthcare providers should target assessing and improving patient engagement and patient empowerment in their healthcare. It is important that health professionals acknowledge patients’ online health information-seeking behaviours that they discuss the information offered by patients and guide them to reliable and accurate web sources.