Korean Americans’ online health information seeking and the role of online communities: in the context of diabetes-related information search.

Abstract

This study investigated the role of ethnic online communities as a health information source for Korean Americans, applying the uses and dependency model as a theoretical framework. A survey was conducted to examine use and evaluation of online communities as diabetes-related information source among Korean Americans and to compare the findings with those from general Americans. The results revealed that ethnic online communities played an important role as accessible and useful sources to obtain diabetes-related information for Korean Americans, while physicians were less utilized by Korean Americans than general Americans. The level of acculturation, health insurance coverage, and health-related cultural beliefs appeared to be significant factors explaining Korean Americans’ use and perception of online communities and physicians as diabetes-related information sources.