Surfing for Health Information

In the recent past, people were used to consulting health care professionals or textbooks in order to find answers to their health-related questions. Now, the availability of medical information through electronic resources has changed people s information-seeking behaviors. Such electronic resources have become very popular and are frequently used in health-related searches. This study examines the online health information-seeking behaviors of middle aged and older people from Middle East Technical University and its vicinities. Specifically, demographic and other factors affecting online health information seeking, the types of the online health information sought, the assessment of such online health information and the reliability criteria of middle aged and older people s online health information habits and preferences.

Autorentext

Elif ÇAKIR TURGUT is a scientific researcher at OFFIS Institute for Information Technology, where she studies on mobile health, intelligent user interfaces and health behavior change. She graduated in September 2010 from Middle East Technical University, Informatics Institute with a M.Sc. in Health Informatics.