THE ROLE OF INTERPERSONAL, MASS MEDIA, AND INTERNET COMMUNICATION ON CHANGES IN SELF-REPORTED HEALTH BEHAVIOR AND SKILLS
Abstract
Communication plays an integral role in changing health behaviors. Seeking
health related information from interpersonal, mass media, and Internet communication is
a common trend. Research on the use of the various communication channels for health
purposes reveals the mode of communication can influence an individual?s perception of
their health condition and ultimately their behavior.
This study focuses on whether personal health information found through the use
of interpersonal, mass media, or Internet communication changes one?s self-reported
health behavior and skills. A statistical analysis was completed using the 2007 Health
Tracking Household Survey conducted by the Center for Studying Health System Change
(HSC) between April 2007 and January 2008. The original sample includes 17,797
respondents from 9,407 U.S. families. The national sample was collected using computerassisted
random telephone interviews.
The literature suggests the channel used to obtain personal health information may
have an impact on self-reported health behaviors and health skills. Results of the
statistical analysis indicated the channels of communication used to obtain health
information did have an impact on self-reported health behavior and health skills. The
strongest predictors of health behavior change were obtaining personal health information
from books, the Internet and sharing personal health information with the healthcare
provider. Future research for policy makers should be directed toward integrating
traditional methods of obtaining personal health information and non-traditional methods
of obtaining health information with regard to changes in health behavior and health
skills.
Subject
Behavior modification
Self-care - health
Health attitudes
Health behavior
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/49187Description
A Field Project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Administration Health Care