Internet use among people living with HIV/AIDS: association of health information, health behaviors, and health status. AIDS Educ Prev 2002 Feb;14(1):51-61
Date
03/20/2002Pubmed ID
11900110DOI
10.1521/aeap.14.1.51.24335Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0036192911 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 78 CitationsAbstract
The telecommunications revolution provides open access to health information that can inform and empower people living with chronic illnesses. However, many people living with HIV may not access the Internet and are not benefiting from available health information. This study investigated Internet access among people living with HIV/AIDS and its relation to health. Results of a survey of men (n = 175) and women (n = 84) living with HIV/AIDS recruited from infectious disease clinics and community-based AIDS services showed that 51% (n = 116) of participants reported ever using the Internet, of which 59% (n = 68) had used the Internet to access health-related information. As expected, Internet users were significantly more likely to be better educated and of higher incomes. Internet users, including those who used the Internet for general purposes and those who reported health-related use, also demonstrated significantly greater knowledge of HIV disease and greater confidence in their ability to adhere to medications. Persons who used the Internet for general purposes were more likely to have an undetectable viral load compared to persons who had not used the Internet. The disparities in Internet use identified in this study suggest that individuals who access the Internet, particularly for health information, are among the better resourced and healthier persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Author List
Kalichman SC, Benotsch EG, Weinhardt LS, Austin J, Luke WAuthor
Lance S. Weinhardt MS,PhD Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Community and Behavioral Health Promotion in the Joseph. J. Zilber School of Public Health department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAged
Female
HIV Infections
Health Behavior
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Status
Humans
Internet
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Compliance
