Skip to main content

Free internet access, the digital divide, and health information.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wagner, TH; Bundorf, MK; Singer, SJ; Baker, LC
Published in: Medical care
April 2005

The Internet has emerged as a valuable tool for health information. Half of the U.S. population lacked Internet access in 2001, creating concerns about those without access. Starting in 1999, a survey firm randomly invited individuals to join their research panel in return for free Internet access. This provides a unique setting to study the ways that people who had not previously obtained Internet access use the Internet when it becomes available to them.In 2001-2002, we surveyed 12,878 individuals 21 years of age and older on the research panel regarding use of the Internet for health; 8935 (69%) responded. We analyzed respondents who had no prior Internet access, and then compared this group to those who had prior Internet access.Among those newly provided free Internet access, 24% had used the Internet for health information in the past year, and users reported notable benefits, such as improved knowledge and self-care abilities. Not surprisingly, the no-prior-Internet group reported lower rates of using the Internet (24%) than the group that had obtained Internet access prior to joining the research panel (40%), but the 2 groups reported similar perceptions of the Internet and self-reported effects.Those who obtained Internet access for the first time by joining the panel used the Internet for health and appeared to benefit from it. Access helps explain the digital divide, although most people given free access do not use the Internet for health information.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Medical care

DOI

EISSN

1537-1948

ISSN

0025-7079

Publication Date

April 2005

Volume

43

Issue

4

Start / End Page

415 / 420

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Internet
  • Humans
  • Health Policy & Services
  • Health Education
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Wagner, T. H., Bundorf, M. K., Singer, S. J., & Baker, L. C. (2005). Free internet access, the digital divide, and health information. Medical Care, 43(4), 415–420. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mlr.0000156857.14152.6e
Wagner, Todd H., M Kate Bundorf, Sara J. Singer, and Laurence C. Baker. “Free internet access, the digital divide, and health information.Medical Care 43, no. 4 (April 2005): 415–20. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mlr.0000156857.14152.6e.
Wagner TH, Bundorf MK, Singer SJ, Baker LC. Free internet access, the digital divide, and health information. Medical care. 2005 Apr;43(4):415–20.
Wagner, Todd H., et al. “Free internet access, the digital divide, and health information.Medical Care, vol. 43, no. 4, Apr. 2005, pp. 415–20. Epmc, doi:10.1097/01.mlr.0000156857.14152.6e.
Wagner TH, Bundorf MK, Singer SJ, Baker LC. Free internet access, the digital divide, and health information. Medical care. 2005 Apr;43(4):415–420.

Published In

Medical care

DOI

EISSN

1537-1948

ISSN

0025-7079

Publication Date

April 2005

Volume

43

Issue

4

Start / End Page

415 / 420

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Internet
  • Humans
  • Health Policy & Services
  • Health Education
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Female