ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2024
Online Health Information Seeking, eHealth Literacy, and Health Behaviors Among Chinese Internet Users: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
36 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The Relation Between eHealth Literacy and Online Health Information-Seeking Behavior: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Pooled it
- Evaluating the reliability and quality of lupus nephritis educational content on TikTok and Bilibili: a cross-sectional content analysis.Lupus science & medicine · 2026Article
- Generative artificial intelligence-assisted medical self-care and associated factors among undergraduate students at Arsi University, South-Eastern Ethiopia.PLOS digital health · 2026Article
- Health-Seeking Behaviors After Acute Respiratory Infection Among Urban and Rural Residents and Different Age Groups: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Channel Effects on Online Health Information Seeking in the Age of AI: An Extension of the CMIS Framework.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Navigating Diabetes Management in the Digital Era: Scoping Review of Online Health Information-Seeking Behavior.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Associations and Pathways Between Online Health Information-Seeking Behavior and Patient Adherence: Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Article
- Quality and reliability of hyperlipidemia-related short videos on mainstream social media platforms: a cross-sectional study.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- The mediating role of digital health literacy in the relationship between social support and health-promoting lifestyle among occupational populations: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Latent profiles analysis and associated factors of digital health literacy among young and middle-aged adults with diabetes.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- The impact of E-health literacy on patient loyalty in county-level public hospitals: the mediating role of value co-creation and the moderating role of perceived social support.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Health misinformation, digital health literacy, and attitudes toward science among university students: an exploratory cross-sectional survey.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Gender disparities in eHealth literacy among Chinese university students and their decomposition.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Development and internal validation of a preliminary model forFrontiers in medicine · 2026Article
- The impact of digital literacy on health behaviors among middle-aged and older adults: the mediating roles of proactive health awareness and social capital.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- The association between health literacy and Health Information-Seeking Behavior among pulmonary nodule patients: a serial mediation of illness perception and self-efficacy.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- The influence of older adults' digital health literacy on health information protection behavior: a moderated mediation model.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Health literacy on tuberculosis prevention and control among people living with HIV: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Digital Health Engagement Regarding Lumbar Disc Herniation in Terms of Exercise Adherence: Integrating Variable-Centered and Person-Centered Perspectives.Patient preference and adherence · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe internet has become an increasingly vital platform for health-related information, especially in upper-middle-income countries such as China. While previous research has suggested that online health information seeking (OHIS) can significantly impact individuals' engagement in health behaviors, most research focused on patient-centered health communication.
objectiveThis study aims to examine how OHIS influences health behavior engagement among Chinese internet users, focusing on the role of eHealth literacy and perceived information quality in influencing relationships.
methodsAn online cross-sectional survey was conducted in November 2021 among 10,000 Chinese internet users, using quota sampling based on sex, age, and urban and rural residence, in line with the 48th Statistical Report on Internet Development of China. Nonparametric tests were used to examine the differences in eHealth literacy across sociodemographic groups. Partial correlation analysis and stepwise linear regression were conducted to test the associations between key variables. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were conducted to test the hypotheses.
resultsOur study identified significant disparities in functional and critical eHealth literacy between urban and rural residents across age groups, income levels, education backgrounds, and health conditions (all P<.001). In terms of sex and regional differences, we found higher functional literacy among female users than male users, and critical literacy varied significantly across different regions. The proposed structural model showed excellent fit (χ
conclusionsThe study revealed the pathways linking sociodemographic factors, eHealth literacy, OHIS, and perceived information quality and how they together influenced health outcomes. The findings underscore the significance of enhancing eHealth literacy and improving information quality to promote better health outcomes among Chinese internet users.
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