Prefered shannels for health information depending on health status

Abstract

Background: In a rapidly changing communication environment study of the communication preferences of different audience segments allows the selection of channels for health information to be tailored to the needs and characteristics of the audience. The purpose of the study is research the channels preferred for health information depending on the health status. Material and methods: A direct individual anonymous questionnaire was used, with a questionnaire on paper. The preferred channels for health information among 2979 persons over 20 years of age, from the 28 districts of the country, depending on their health status, were studied. The main statistical methods are: descriptive analysis, graphical analysis; variation analysis, Z-test to establish a significant difference. The results show significant differences in the choice of sources of health information between people with disease and people without disease. Physicians are the most commonly preferred health information channel, with a statistically significant difference depending on the health status (p<0,001). The Internet is twice as often preferred for health information by healthy people than by people with a disease (p<0.001). Television is a major channel for health information for people with a specific disease or medical problem, while healthy respondents more frequently prefer the Internet.