Engaging with digital health: a cross-sectional study of older adults’ use of online health information exchange

Abstract

Background Online health information exchange (OHIE) increasingly shapes how individuals interact with healthcare providers and peers. Yet, despite older adults’ often high need for health information, their engagement with OHIE remains insufficiently understood, given persistent age-related differences in digital access and skills.

Methods This study draws on a population-based survey of older adults aged 60 + in Switzerland (N = 1,261) to analyze three types of OHIE: interactions with doctors, other healthcare providers, and peers. Logistic regression models were used to assess how sociodemographic, health-related, behavioral, and competence-based factors are associated with OHIE.

Results Older adults reported higher use of digital interactions with professionals than with peers. Digital competence was significantly associated with OHIE with doctors and other healthcare providers across all lower competence levels, and, to a more limited extent, with peer-based OHIE, where the association was significant only for basic competence. Peer-based OHIE was predicted by lower levels of education and a greater tendency to seek social support. Common barriers among non-users included concerns about credibility and distrust, as well as a lack of digital experience.

Conclusions OHIE among older adults reflects differentiated patterns depending on the interaction context. While OHIE with professionals is primarily associated with digital competence, peer-based digital interactions appear to be shaped more by sociodemographic (such as education) and motivational aspects (such as support seeking). These findings highlight the importance of addressing not only digital skills but also trust, usability, and digital judgment when designing inclusive digital health environments for aging populations.