Internet Use Background The purpose of this health indicator report is to provide information about internet use in general, internet use for the purpose of finding health information and internet use to access the Halton Region website, among adults aged 18 and over living in Halton Region. Over the last 10-15 years, the internet has become a very important channel to distribute information to large populations. 1 Today, governments and health organizations are providing and maintaining websites with health-related information for the public to easily access. 1 Although this is very beneficial, internet users must be conscious of websites that are not reliable sources of information. 2 Websites that are run and maintained by non-profit educational or medical organizations and government agencies are usually dependable sources of health-related information. 2 This Health Indicator Report uses data from the Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System. Internet Use Status Trends Over Time From 2001 to 2014 the percentage of Halton adults who reported using the internet increased from 71% to 88%. This increase was statistically significant. who reported using the internet. internet, Halton Region, 2001-2014 internet, by sex, Halton
Time Trend - Age using the internet decreased with age. This difference was statistically significant when comparing adults aged 25-44 to adults aged 45-64 and aged 65+ and when comparing adults aged 45-64 to adults aged 65+. From 2001 to 2014 the percentage of Halton adults who reported using the internet increased in all age groups. These increases were all statistically significant. The greatest increase was observed in Halton adults aged 65+ which increased from 27% to 75% between 2001 and 2014. adults who reported using the internet. internet, by age, Halton Region, 2001-2014 internet, by municipality, Halton Income using the internet increased as income increased. This difference was statistically significant when comparing adults in the low income group to adults in the middle and high income groups. having used the internet compared to adults who were not post-secondary graduates. This difference was statistically significant. internet, by income, Halton Percentage of adults aged 25 and over who reported using the internet, by education, Halton
Use of Internet to Access Health-Related Information Trends Over Time In 2014, 74% of Halton adults reported using the internet to access health-related information. From 2001 to 2014 the percentage of Halton adults who reported using the internet to access healthrelated information increased from 35% to 74% and this increase was statistically significant. who reported using the internet to access healthrelated information. internet to access health-related information, Halton Region, 2001-2014 internet to access health-related information, by sex, Halton Age using the internet to access health-related information decreased with age. This difference was statistically significant when comparing adults aged 25-44 to adults aged 65+. adults who reported using the internet to access health-related information. internet to access health-related information, by age, Halton internet to access health-related information, by municipality, Halton
Income using the internet to access health-related information increased as income increased. This difference was statistically significant when comparing adults in the low income group to adults in the middle and high income groups. having used the internet to access health-related information compared to adults who were not postsecondary graduates. This difference was statistically significant. internet to access health-related information, by income, Halton Percentage of adults aged 25 and over who reported using the internet to access health-related information, by education, Halton Accessing Halton Region s Website Trends Over Time From 2001 to 2014 the percentage of Halton adults who reported accessing Halton Region s website increased from 10% to 22% and this increase was statistically significant. who reported accessing Halton Region s website. Halton Region s website, Halton Region, 2001-2014 Halton Region s website, by sex, Halton
Age accessing Halton Region s website decreased with age. This difference was statistically significant when comparing adults aged 25-44 to adults aged 65+ and when comparing adults aged 45-64 to adults aged 65+. adults who reported accessing Halton Region s website. Halton Region s website, by age, Halton Halton Region s website, by municipality, Halton Income differences by income in the percentage of Halton adults who reported accessing Halton Region s website. accessing Halton Region s website compared to adults who were not post-secondary graduates. This difference was statistically significant. Halton Region s website, by income, Halton Percentage of adults aged 25 and over who reported accessing Halton Region s website, by education, Halton
Accessing Halton Region s website for Health-Related Information Overall Findings In 2014, 18% of Halton adults reported accessing Halton Region s website for health-related information. who reported accessing Halton Region s website for health-related information. Halton Region s website for health-related information, Halton Region, 2001-2014 Halton Region s website for health-related information, by sex, Halton Age accessing Halton Region s website for health-related information decreased with age. This difference was statistically significant when comparing adults aged 25-44 to adults aged 65+ and when comparing adults aged 45-64 to adults aged 65+. adults who reported accessing Halton Region s website for health-related information. Halton Region s website for health-related information, by age, Halton Halton Region s website for health-related information, by municipality, Halton
Income differences by income in the percentage of Halton adults who reported accessing Halton Region s website for health-related information. accessing Halton Region s website for health-related information compared to adults who were not postsecondary graduates. This difference was statistically significant. Halton Region s website for health-related information, by income, Halton Percentage of adults aged 25 and over who reported accessing Halton Region s website for health-related information, by education, Halton Data Notes For more information on RRFSS, methods, statistical significance and limitations associated with health indicator reports, please see the Data Notes and Guide available at www.halton.ca/healthstats Data Source: Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System [2001-2004, 2010, May-Dec 2014], Halton Region Health Department and Institute for Social Research, York University. Estimates marked with an asterisk (*) should be interpreted with caution due to high variability. Estimates marked with a double asterisk (**) are not reportable. References 1. Curtis, L., & Zhang, S. (2007). Utilization of Online Health Information. Retrieved June 2015, from http://www.nihi.ca/nihi/hitalks/research/2006-2007/04-11-2007/default.pdf. 2. Evaluating Health Information Online. (n.d.). Retrieved June 2015, from http://www.cpha.ca/en/programs/portals/h-l/web.aspx. For more health indicator and health status reports, visit the Halton Health Statistics website at www.halton.ca/healthstats Last Revised: August 18th, 2015 Expected Update: 2019