| Objective To analyze the distribution characteristics of information needs on online health community platforms for the elderly. Methods The research was based on 6,013 elderly medical consultation records generated from the "Xun Yi Wen Yao" OHC between January 7, 2013, and July 13, 2022, as the source of research data. A three-level coding system based on grounded theory was employed to create a coding table for elderly health information demands. Subsequently, content analysis was used to quantify the characteristics of health information demands among the elderly and analyze the differences in health information demands within the elderly population. Results It was found that the elderly health information needs system was composed of nine dimensions, including prevention and treatment of disease, cancer/tumour, lifestyle adjustment, abnormal excretion, medication consultation, sexual health, beautification of body, medical health care related and others,which could be further divided into 36 classes of secondary health information needs such as cardiovascular system health information needs, cancer treatment, diet and nutrition, etc. There was a statistically significant difference in health information needs for tumor/cancer, sexual health, and beautification of body among the elderly groups of different genders(P<0.05);and the elderly users of different ages had significant differences in the health information needs of cancer/tumour, lifestyle adjustment, abnormal excretion, sexual health and beautification of body (P<0.05). Conclusion In the online health community platform, the health information needs of the elderly are diverse and different, and gender and age are the factors influencing the health information needs of the elderly. |
