Health Information Access Behaviors by Sexual Orientation: A Secondary Data Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey.

Abstract

Sexual minority (SM) adults are at increased risk for adverse health outcomes and face unique barriers to engagement and retention in healthcare, including stigma and discrimination. Given known barriers to care, SM adults may prefer online platforms due to limited access to in-person clinical care and fear of discrimination. To date, there is limited knowledge of these behaviors among subgroups of SM adults. This study was a cross-sectional, secondary data analysis of the United States National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Adult Sample Data Set, 2018. Utilizing descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regressions, we found that bisexual females had significantly greater odds (AOR = 1.58, CI: 1.04-2.39) of seeking health information online compared to straight females. Similarly, when compared to their straight male counterparts, gay males had significantly higher odds of seeking health information online in the past 12 months (AOR = 2.96, 95% CI: 2.00-4.37). These findings indicate the need for targeting messaging and interventions to address the health concerns of these populations. It also suggests that virtual platforms are viable and perhaps preferred for these subgroups of SM adults. Through continued efforts and research, the field can target relevant health information to populations who need it most by leveraging where they seek it.