Internet use and healthcare utilization among older adults in China: a nationally representative cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Research on whether Internet use is related to older adults' health service use is limited. Hence, this study aimed to empirically examine the associations between Internet use and the different types of healthcare utilization among Chinese older adults and whether there were urban or rural differences.

Methods

This study used large-scale nationwide data for Chinese older adults from the 2018 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS). The main explanatory variables were general Internet use and different types of Internet usage, including usage for communication, entertainment, and as instruments. The outcome measures included outpatient and inpatient care utilization, specifically examining the choice of health providers after an illness, the rate of outpati

SUBMITTER: Jing R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11881273 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature