Utilization of online health information by smartphone users of an urban area of Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu – A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Internet has become a popular first-hand source of information for preventive, promotive, and curatives services. Online health information seekers face a big challenge with unregulated flow of information from Internet. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the utilization of online health information of smartphone users and to study the various determinants of utilization of online health information of smartphone users of an urban area of Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 216 adult smartphone users residing in an urban area of Thiruporur, Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu. Through a systematic random sampling method, the participants were selected. Pretested semi-structured schedule was used after getting informed consent through face to face interview method. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 version software. RESULTS: Utilization of online health information was 86.2% among smartphone users of an urban area of Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu. Nearly 12% of the online health information seekers self-medicated with the information they obtained online and about 60% of the online health information seekers did not validate the health information they obtained online with any of the health care providers. CONCLUSION: Even though, online health information empowers the population, there is some major negative effect like self-medication. This study found that the utilization of online health information was three fourth percentages among smartphone users and only a few of the participant's accessed expertise information sources like government websites for health information. Thus needs definite regulation in the form of appropriate legislation to control the unregulated inflow of health information.