Access to and use of health information technology among obese and non-obese Americans: Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey data
https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2022-0058
- Author:
Jacksaint Saintila
1
;
Cristian Ramos-Vera
2
;
Yaquelin E. Calizaya-Milla
1
;
Veronica Ileana Hidalgo Villarreal
3
;
Antonio Serpa-Barrientos
4
;
Wilter C. Morales-García
5
Author Information
1. Research Group for Nutrition and Lifestyle, Escuela de Nutricion Humana, Universidad Peruana Union, Lima, Peru
2. Research Area, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Lima, Peru
3. Departamento de Saude Publica, Instituto Aggeu Magalhaes, Fiocruz, Recife, Brasil
4. Escuela de Psicologia, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
5. Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Peruana Union, Lima, Peru
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
BMI, eHealth, obesity, smartphone, telemedicine
- From:
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition
2023;29(No.2):255-266
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Health information technology (HIT) is essential in the prevention,
management, and treatment of obesity due to the medical data and information
available to health care providers and patients. However, exploration of HIT access
and use among obese individuals remains limited. Objective: The purpose of
this study was to compare access to and use of HIT among obese and non-obese
Americans. Methods: We considered cross-sectional secondary data from 3,865
United States adults that were collected through the Health Information National
Trends Survey in 2020. Contingency tables were performed stratifying between
men and women to assess whether they differed according to body mass index
(BMI) levels with respect to HIT categories. Results: Elevated BMI in women was
associated with the use of a computer, smartphone, or other electronic device to
e-mail or use the Internet to communicate with a doctor or a doctor’s office. In
addition, elevated BMI in both genders was associated with sharing information
from a smartphone/electronic device with a health professional. Finally, the use
of an electronic device to monitor or track health or activity was found to be more
prevalent among women with elevated BMI compared to those with normal BMI.
Conclusion: Future studies should expand research in terms of interventions
linked to health information technology in adults with obesity by considering the
gender factor. Moreover, the expansion of research into electronic health (eHealth)
interventions is particularly important because it would favour the prevention,
management, control, and treatment of obesity.
- Full text:4.2023my0614.pdf
