The association between women’s health information use and health care visits

Nicholson, Wanda; Gardner, Bridget; Grason, Holly A.; Powe, Neil R.

doi:10.1016/j.whi.2005.05.004

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Volume 15, Issue 6 , Pages 240-248, November 2005

The association between women’s health information use and health care visits

Wanda Nicholson, MD, MPH
- Women’s and Children’s Health Policy Center, Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Correspondence to: Wanda Nicholson, MD, MPH, MBA, Assistant Professor, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 600 North Wolfe Street, Phipps 249, Baltimore, MD 21287; Voicemail: (443) 287-6942; Fax: (410) 955-2303.
Bridget Gardner, MHS
- Women’s and Children’s Health Policy Center, Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
Holly A. Grason, MS
- Women’s and Children’s Health Policy Center, Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
Neil R. Powe, MD, MPH, MBA
- Departments of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- The Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

Received 15 April 2004; received in revised form 6 March 2005; accepted 2 May 2005.

Objective

To determine the effect of the type of information sources used on health services use.

Methods

Population-based random-digit dialing survey of 498 women, between December 1999 and January 2000, on use of health information sources and health visits.

Results

After adjustment for sociodemographic and medical factors, use of print health media and computer-based resources was associated with 1.9 and 1.6 more visits, respectively compared to non-use (Regression coefficients 1.9; [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.1, 3.7] and 1.6; [95% CI 0.3, 3.0]).