AUTHOR=Luo Aijing , Yu Zhen , Liu Fei , Xie Wenzhao 

TITLE=The Chain Mediating Effect of the Public's Online Health Information-Seeking Behavior on Doctor-Patient Interaction

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.874495

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.874495

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Objective: This paper aims to explore the influence mechanisms of online health information-seeking behavior (OHISB) on doctor-patient interactions (DPI) from a psychological perspective, using theory as a guide，which can effectively guide the mode of doctor-patient interaction after searching behavior in China.
Methods: We conducted a convenient Web-based survey among members of the public who engage in searching behavior in China using a pretested structured questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was performed for path analysis and mediating effect testing.
Results: The findings of the study show that (1) perceived disease severity (PDS)(95% CI: 0.003, 0.04, P <0.001), perceived action benefits (PAB) ( 95% CI: 0.059, 0.138, P <0.001), and e-health literacy (EHL) (95% CI: 0.061, 0.155, P <0.001) were positive predictors between OHISB and DPI. (2) The EHL → PDS (95% CI: 0.001, 0.013, P <0.05) and EHL → PAB (95% CI: 0.082, 0.166, P <0.001) paths are positive predictors between OHISB and DPI.
Conclusions:  EHL, PDS, and PAB act as a chain mediator between OHISB and DPI.