Term of Award
Spring 2025
Degree Name
Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.)
Document Type and Release Option
Dissertation (restricted to Georgia Southern)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Department
College of Public Health
Committee Chair
Gulzar Shah
Committee Member 1
Bettye Apenteng
Committee Member 2
Jeffery Jones
Abstract
The increasing role of digital platforms as a source of health information and service-delivery modes is also shaping individuals’ healthcare utilization. This dissertation uses a multi-manuscript format comprising quantitative survey research to examine the associations between engagement in online health services, social media use, and healthcare utilization. The first study examines the relationship between social media use for health-related information and the likelihood of delaying needed medical care. The second study investigates factors associated with digital patient-provider interactions, including using the Internet to message healthcare providers and offices, view medical test results, and schedule medical appointments online. Results of the multivariable logistic regression in the first study showed that the odds of delaying needed medical care were significantly higher among respondents who did not trust the healthcare system at all (AOR = 7.67, 95% CI [3.73, 15.77], p < .001), trusted it a little (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI [1.70, 3.18], p < .001), and somewhat trusted it (AOR = 1.67, 95% CI [1.29, 2.17], p < .001), compared to those who reported trusting the healthcare system very much. In the second study, a key finding across all models was that respondents who reported using the Internet to look for health information had significantly higher odds of using the Internet to message a healthcare provider, view medical test results, and make a medical appointment. The findings contribute to understanding digital disparities in healthcare utilization, offering insights to inform policies and strategies that promote the equitable use of digital health tools.
Recommended Citation
Louis, Banee J., "The Digital Influence on Healthcare Utilization: An Analysis of Online Health Services Engagement, Patient-Provider Communication, and Social Media's Role in Delayed Care" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2896.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/2896
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
