Patient centeredness, independent health-related Internet use, and online communication with healthcare providers in later life: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To test the links between patient centeredness, independent health-related Internet use, and online communication with healthcare provider in later life. Methods: These links were tested on a multivariable level through the prism of the socioemotional selectivity theory and the channel complementarity theory. The data were obtained from the Health Information National Trends Survey (Wave 5, Cycle 4) and analyzed using logistic regression models. The sample included older Internet users (N = 1165). Results: Low patient centeredness corresponded to a decreased likelihood of communicating with healthcare providers online. No particular patient centeredness component was associated with the studied phenomenon. Online health information seeking corresponded to an increased likelihood of communicating with healthcare providers online. Conclusion: Patient centeredness plays a relatively modest role in explanation of the online communication with healthcare providers in later life. In addition, older adults' online health information seeking behavior and online patient-provider communication seem to complement each other. Practice implications: The findings can serve public health officials for developing programs aimed at increasing the rates of the online communication with healthcare providers in older population. The findings can also serve healthcare providers in their efforts to improve the quality of (online) communication with their older patients.