Characteristics
All respondents 50+
IUHP 50–59
IUHP 60+
IUHP 2005
IUHP 2007
IUHP 2012
n = 323
n = 217
n = 106
n = 56
n = 96
n = 171
% (CI)
% (CI)
% (CI)
% (CI)
% (CI)
% (CI)
Gender
Men
50.8 (45.2–56.3)
46.5 (39.8–53.4)
59.4 (49.4–68.7)
62.5 (48.5–74.8)
56.2 (45.8–66.2)
43.9 (36.4–51.6)
Women
49.2 (43.7–54.8)
53.5 (46.6–60.2)
40.6 (31.3–50.6)
37.5 (25.2–51.5)
43.8 (33.8–54.2)
56.1 (48.4–63.6)
Age (years)
Means ± SD
58.0 ± 7.1
54.0 ± 2.9
66.3 ± 5.7
57.2 ± 6.3
57.9 ± 7.6
58.4 ± 7.1
Median (min-max)
56 (50–83)
54 (50–59)
65 (60–83)
55 (50–77)
57 (50–79)
57 (50–83)
Educationa:
A level
26.9 (22.2–32.2)
27.6 (21.9–34.2)
25.5 (17.7–35.0)
17.9 (9.3–30.9)
22.9 (15.2–32.8)
32.2 (25.4–39.8)
B level
41.8 (36.4–47.4)
43.3 (36.7–50.2)
38.7 (29.5–48.7)
35.7 (23.7–49.7)
49.0 (38.7–59.3)
39.7 (32.5–47.5)
C level
31.3 (26.3–36.7)
29.1 (23.2–35.6)
35.8 (26.9–45.8)
46.4 (33.2–60.1)
28.1 (19.7–38.4)
28.1 (21.6–35.5)
Employment status
Paid work (including self-employment)
43.8 (38.3–49.4)
57.9 (51.0–64.5)
15.1 (9.1–23.7)
51.8 (38.2–65.2)
46.9 (36.7–57.3)
39.4 (32.1–47.2)
Retired/housework/care for children or other persons/unemployed and others
50.3 (44.7–55.9)
35.2 (28.9–42.0)
81.1 (72.1–87.8)
41.1 (28.4–55.0)
45.8 (35.7–56.3)
55.9 (48.1–63.4)
Permanently sick or disabled
5.9 (3.7–9.2)
6.9 (4.1–11.4)
3.8 (1.2–9.9)
7.1 (2.3–18.1)
7.3 (3.2–14.9)
4.7 (2.2–9.4)
Place of residence
Big cities (above 100,000 residents)
34.8 (29.6–40.3)
33.2 (27.0–39.9)
38.1 (28.9–48.1)
50.0 (37.3–62.7)
35.4 (26.1–45.9)
29.4 (22.8–37.0)
Minor cities
34.8 (29.6–40.3)
33.6 (27.5–40.4)
37.1 (28.1–47.2)
30.4 (19.2–44.3)
38.5 (29.0–49.1)
34.1 (27.1–41.8)
Villages/rural area
30.4 (25.5–35.8)
33.2 (27.0–39.9)
24.8 (17.1–34.3)
19.6 (10.7–32.8)
26.1 (17.9–36.2)
36.5 (29.3–44.2)
Health status (subjective assessment)
Very good/ good
44.3 (38.8–49.9)
46.5 (39.8–53.4)
39.6 (30.4–49.6)
46.4 (33.2–60.1)
44.8 (34.8–55.3)
43.3 (35.8–51.1)
Fair
47.0 (41.5–52.7)
46.1 (39.4–53.0)
49.1 (39.3–58.9)
42.9 (30.0–56.7)
44.8 (34.8–55.3)
49.7 (42.0–57.4)
Poor /very poor
8.7 (5.94–1.4)
7.4 (4.4–11.9)
11.3 (6.2–19.3)
10.7 (4.4–22.6)
10.4 (5.4–18.7)
7.0 (3.8–12.2)
Frequency of visits to doctor (during last 12 months)
Means ± SD
6.8 ± 9.8
6.6 ± 11.1
7.3 ± 6.5
6.8 ± 7.0
6.0 ± 7.1
7.3 ± 11.7
Median (min-max)
4 (0–99)
4 (0–99)
6 (0–45)
5 (0–30)
3 (0–30)
5 (0–99)
Chronic diseases/disability
Yes, I personally
13.7 (10.2–18.0)
13.0 (8.9–18.4)
15.1 (9.1–23.7)
12.5 (5.6–24.7)
10.5 (5.4–18.9)
15.8 (10.8–22.3)
Yes, a person close to me
28.9 (24.1–34.2)
31.5 (25.4–38.2)
23.6 (16.1–33.0)
26.8 (16.2–40.5)
27.4 (19.0–37.6)
30.4 (23.7–38.0)
No
57.4 (51.8–62.9)
55.5 (48.7–62.3)
61.3 (51.3–70.5)
60.7 (46.8–73.2)
62.1 (51.5–71.7)
53.8 (46.0–61.4)
Frequency of Internet use for health purposes
Every day
2.5 (1.2–5.0)
2.3 (0.9–5.6)
2.8 (0.7–8.7)
3.6 (0.6–13.4)
2.1 (0.4–8.0)
2.3 (0.8–6.3)
Every week
21.4 (17.1–26.3)
20.3 (15.3–26.4)
23.6 (16.1–33.0)
12.5 (5.6–24.7)
22.9 (15.2–32.8)
23.4 (17.4–30.6)
Every month
46.1 (40.6–51.7)
46.1 (39.4–53.0)
46.2 (36.6–56.1)
39.3 (26.8–53.3)
50.0 (40.2–59.8)
46.2 (38.6–54.0)
Every 6 months
19.2 (15.1–24.0)
18.9 (14.0–24.9)
19.8 (13.0–28.9)
12.5 (5.6–24.7)
20.8 (13.5–30.6)
20.5 (14.9–27.5)
Ever year
7.4 (4.9–11.0)
8.3 (5.1–13.0)
5.7 (2.3–12.4)
21.4 (12.0–34.8)
1.1 (0.1–6.5)
6.4 (3.4–11.5)
Less than once a year
3.4 (1.8–6.2)
4.1 (2.0–8.0)
1.9 (0.3–7.3)
10.7 (4.4–22.6)
3.1 (0.8–9.5)
1.2 (0.2–4.6)
Mobile phone use
Yes
93.6 (88.5–96.6)
96.3 (90.3–98.8)
88.7 (77.5–95.0)
93.6 (88.5–96.6)
No
6.4 (3.4–11.5)
3.7 (1.2–9.7)
11.3 (5.0–22.5)
No data
No data
6.4 (3.4–11.5)
3.2 Internet Use to Better Handle the Medical Consultation
70.3 % of citizens aged 50 and over were looking for health information that might help them take a decision as to whether to consult a health professional; 54.5 % turned to the Internet to find medical information prior to an appointment, and 63.8 % were looking for health information to assess the outcome of the medical consultation and get a ‘second opinion’. The younger group of respondents (50–59) had a rather more proactive stance, and used the Internet for these purposes slightly more often when compared with older respondents (60+). However, this trend has statistical significance only in the case of searching for online health information prior to an appointment (p = 0.017). Analyzing subsequent surveys, citizens 50+ in 2012 used the Internet significantly more often than in 2005 and 2007: to find health information that could help them make a decision about consulting a health professional (p = 0.030), to be prepared for a medical consultation (p = 0.035) and to assess the outcome of the consultation with the doctor (p = 0.008) (Table 2).
Table 2
Frequency of some purposes related to medical consultation for which Internet can be used to provide information on health and/or illness
Purposes related to medical consultation | All respondents 50+ | IUHP 50–59 | IUHP 60+ | IUHP 2005 | IUHP 2007 | IUHP 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mean% (CI) | mean% (CI) | mean% (CI) | P-value | mean% (CI) | mean% (CI) | mean% (CI) | P-value | |
n =323 | n = 217 | n = 106 | n = 56 | n = 96 | n = 171 | |||
Finding health information to decide whether to consult a health professional | ||||||||
Always/often | 12.1 (8.8–16.3) | 12.9 (8.9–18.3) | 10.4 (5.5–18.2) | 12.5 (5.6–24.7) | 9.4 (4.6–17.5) | 13.5 (8.9–19.7) | ||
Sometimes/rarely | 58.2 (52.6–63.6) | 59.0 (52.1–65.5) | 56.6 (46.6–66.1) | 53.6 (39.9–66.8) | 50.0 (40.2–59.8) | 64.3 (56.6–71.4) | ||
Never | 29.7 (24.9–35.1) | 28.1 (22.3–34.7) | 33.0 (24.4–42.9) | 0.613 | 33.9 (22.2–47.9) | 40.6 (30.9–51.1) | 22.2 (16.4–29.3) | 0.030 |
Finding health information prior to an appointment (to be prepared for a medical consultation) | ||||||||
Always/often | 11.1 (8.0–15.2) | 11.5 (7.7–16.7) | 10.4 (5.5–18.2) | 8.9 (3.3–20.4) | 5.2 (1.9–12.3) | 15.2 (10.3–21.7) | ||
Sometimes/rarely | 43.3 (37.9–49.0) | 48.4 (41.6–55.2) | 33.0 (24.4–42.9) | 39.3 (26.8–53.2) | 40.6 (30.9–51.1) | 46.2 (38.6–54.0) | ||
Never | 45.5 (40.0–51.1) | 40.1 (33.6–47.0) | 56.6 (46.6–66.1) | 0.017 | 51.8 (38.2–65.2) | 54.2 (43.7–64.3) | 38.6 (31.4–46.4) | 0.035 |
Finding health information to assess the outcome of the medical consultation and get ‘second opinion’ | ||||||||
Always/often | 13.6 (10.2–18.0) | 14.3 (10.1–19.8) | 12.3 (7.0–20.4) | 14.3 (6.8–26.8) | 6.2 (2.6–13.6) | 17.5 (12.3–24.3) | ||
Sometimes/rarely | 50.2 (44.6–55.7) | 51.6 (44.8–58.4) | 47.2 (37.5–57.1) | 48.2 (34.8–61.8) | 44.8 (34.7–55.3) | 53.8 (46.0–61.4) | ||
Never | 36.2 (31.0–41.8) | 34.1 (27.9–40.9) | 40.6 (31.3–50.6) | 0.538 | 37.5 (25.2–51.5) | 49.0 (38.7–59.3) | 28.7 (22.1–36.1) | 0.008 |
3.3 The Influence of Online Health Information on the Attitudes and Behavior of Citizens 50+
Willingness to change diet or other life-style habits (48.0 % of positive answers), or making suggestions or queries on diagnosis or treatment to the doctor (46.1 %), were the most likely effects of health-related use of the Internet. Feelings of reassurance or relief after obtaining information on health or illness were reported by a similar number of respondents as feelings of anxiety and fear (31.0 % and 31.3 %, respectively). On the other hand, online health information caused 20.4 % of citizens aged 50 and over to make, change or cancel an appointment with a doctor, and 7.7 % of respondents took a critical decision to change their use of medicines without consulting their family doctor, specialist or any other health professionals. Concerns about confidentiality of transmitted data were expressed by 7.4 % of older citizens (Table 3).
Table 3
Influence of Internet use and online health information on attitudes, behaviors, and emotions of Polish citizens 50+
Attitudes and behaviors | ALL RESPONDENTS 50+ | IUHP 50–59 | IUHP 60+ | IUHP 2005 | IUHP 2007 | IUHP 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mean% (CI) | mean% (CI) | mean% (CI) | P-value | mean% (CI) | mean% (CI) | mean% (CI) | P-value | |
n = 323 | n = 217 | n = 106 | n = 56 | n = 96 | n = 171 | |||
Worries about confidentiality | ||||||||
Yes | 7.4 (4.8–11.1) | 4.9 (2.5–9.1) | 12.5 (6.9–21.2) | 0.030 | 7.4 (2.4–18.7) | 4.5 (1.5–11.9) | 8.9 (5.1–14.8) | 0.484 |
No/Undecided | 92.6 (88.9–95.2) | 95.1 (90.9–97.5) | 87.5 (78.8–93.1) | 92.6 (81.3–97.6) | 95.5 (88.1–98.5) | 91.1 (85.2–94.9) | ||
Feelings of anxiety | ||||||||
Yes | 31.3 (26.3–36.7) | 35.0 (28.8–41.8) | 23.6 (16.1–33.0) | 0.041 | 30.4 (19.2–44.3) | 21.9 (14.3–31.7) | 36.8 (29.7–44.6) | 0.039 |
No/Undecided | 68.7 (63.3–73.7) | 65.0 (58.2–71.2) | 76.4 (67.0–83.9) | 69.6 (55.7–80.8) | 78.1 (68.3–85.7) | 63.2 (55.4–70.3) | ||
Feelings of reassurance or relief | ||||||||
Yes | 31.0 (26.0–36.4) | 30.9 (24.9–37.5) | 31.1 (22.7–41.0) | 1 | 41.1 (28.4–55.0) | 31.2 (22.4–41.6) | 27.5 (21.1–34.9) | 0.166 |
No/Undecided | 69.0 (63.6–74.0) | 69.1 (62.5–75.1) | 68.9 (59.0–77.3) | 58.9 (45.0–71.6) | 68.8 (58.4–77.6) | 72.5 (65.1–78.9) | ||
Willingness to change diet or other life style habits | ||||||||
Yes | 48.0 (42.4–53.6) | 49.3 (42.5–56.1) | 45.3 (35.7–55.2) | 0.554 | 51.8 (38.2–65.2) | 54.2 (43.7–64.3) | 43.3 (35.8–51.1) | 0.185 |
No/Undecided | 52.0 (46.4–57.6) | 50.7 (43.9–57.5) | 54.7 (44.8–64.3) | 48.2 (34.8–61.8) | 45.8 (35.7–56.3) | 56.7 (48.9–64.2) | ||
Suggestions or queries on diagnosis or treatment to the family doctor, specialists or other health professionals | ||||||||
Yes | 46.1 (40.6–51.7) | 47.5 (40.7–54.3) | 43.4 (33.9–53.4) | 0.553 | 57.1 (43.3–70.0) | 52.1 (41.7–62.3) | 39.2 (31.9–47.0) | 0.024 |
No/Undecided | 53.9 (48.3–59.4) | 52.5 (45.7–59.3) | 56.6 (46.6–66.1) | 42.9 (30.0–56.7) | 47.9 (37.7–58.3) < div class='tao-gold-member'>
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