Examining the relationship between Internet health information seeking and patient-centered communication in China: taking into account self-efficacy in medical decision-making
Shaohai Jiang, Jiaying Liu
Abstract
The tension between patients and doctors has become a social issue in China. Promoting patient-centered communication (PCC) may be one way to mitigate this problem. Internet health information seeking (IHIS) has become increasingly popular among Chinese people. However, the relationship between IHIS and PCC has not been adequately examined, and the mechanism underlying it remains unclear. In this study, the results of an online survey conducted in China (N = 423) showed that one-way IHIS was not significantly associated with PCC either directly or indirectly. In contrast, two-way IHIS had a positive and direct relationship with PCC. Moreover, the indirect relationship between two-way IHIS and PCC was mediated by self-efficacy in decision-making. The implications of these findings for IHIS and PCC, particularly in the context of China, are discussed.