Online health information behaviour and its association with statin adherence in patients with high cardiovascular risk: A prospective cohort study

Lim, Hooi Min and Ng, Chirk Jenn and Abdullah, Adina and Danee, Mahmoud and Raubenheimer, Jacques and Dunn, Adam G. (2024) Online health information behaviour and its association with statin adherence in patients with high cardiovascular risk: A prospective cohort study. Digital Health, 10. p. 20552076241241250. ISSN 2055-2076, DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241241250.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241241250

Abstract

Objective: Statins are effective for preventing cardiovascular disease. However, many patients decide not to take statins because of negative influences, such as online misinformation. Online health information may affect decisions on medication adherence, but measuring it is challenging. This study aimed to examine the associations between online health information behaviour and statin adherence in patients with high cardiovascular risk. Methods: A prospective cohort study involving 233 patients with high cardiovascular risk was conducted at a primary care clinic in Malaysia. Participants used a digital information diary tool to record online health information they encountered for 2 months and completed a questionnaire about statin necessity, concerns and adherence at the end of the observation period. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling. Results: The results showed that 55.8% (130 of 233 patients) encountered online health information. Patients who actively sought online health information (91 of 233 patients) had higher concerns about statin use (beta = 0.323, p = 0.023). Participants with higher concern about statin use were also more likely to be non-adherent (beta = -0.337, p < 0.001). Patients who actively sought online health information were more likely to have lower statin adherence, mediated by higher concerns about statin use (indirect effect, beta = -0.109, p = 0.048). Conclusions: Our results suggest that patients with higher levels of concern about statins may be actively seeking online information about statins, and their concerns might influence how they search, what they find, and the potential to encounter misinformation. Our study highlights the importance of addressing patients' concerns about medications to improve adherence.

Item Type: Article
Funders: World Health Organization
Uncontrolled Keywords: consumer health informatics; information-seeking behaviour; health literacy; medication adherence; cardiovascular risk
Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine > Primary Care Medicine Department
Faculty of Medicine > Social & Preventive Medicine
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 13 Nov 2024 05:00
Last Modified: 13 Nov 2024 05:00
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/45874

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