Usages sociaux d’Internet-santé et stratégies de communication dans la population LGBT canadienne

• Main Authors: Joseph J. Lévy, Jean Dumas, Line Chamberland, Yannick Chicoine Braithwaite
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Université du Québec à Montréal 2013-12-01
• Series: Communiquer
• Subjects: social uses; internet; health; LGBT; Canada
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/communiquer/514

To understand the social practices to retrieve information on health on Internet, 2187 Canadian LGBT answered an on-line questionnaire. The state of health, the variable used in the evaluation of the use of Internet, depends according to subgroups. The majority of sites visited, associated to community institutions, address the general population, LGBT or specific groups. The most popular themes, explored with search engines, concern especially lifestyles, pharmaceutical drugs, diseases or specific symptoms. For several dimensions, the evaluation is very positive, but the quality of the information remains more doubtful. The level of satisfaction varies with the items and the information is shared within the circle of acquaintances or the doctor. The health status modulates the repercussions, stronger in the case of physical health, mode of health management and the relationship to healthcare professionals.