Table 2.
Participants’ characteristics for the total sample and by intervention groups.
| Item/Scale | Total (N=101) | Health information seekers (n=41) | Health information avoiders (n=60) | |
| Gender (male), n (%) | 38 (37.6) | 11 (26.8) | 27 (45) | |
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 74.9 (8.1) | 74.4 (7.1) | 75.3 (8.7) | |
| Marital status, n (%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Married | 50 (49.5) | 22 (53.7) | 28 (46.7) |
|
|
Widowed | 34 (33.7) | 15 (36.6) | 19 (31.7) |
|
|
Separated | 4 (4.0) | —a | 4 (6.7) |
|
|
Divorced | 8 (7.9) | 4 (9.8) | 4 (6.7) |
|
|
Single (never married) | 5 (5.0) | — | 5 (8.3) |
| Children (yes), n (%) | 90 (89.1) | 37 (90.2) | 53 (88.3) | |
|
|
Number of children, mean (SD) | 2.4 (1.1) | 2.3 (1.1) | 2.5 (1.2) |
| Living situation, n (%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
I live independently at home | 71 (70.3) | 31 (75.6) | 40 (66.7) |
|
|
I live at home with the support of family members | 12 (11.9) | 5 (12.2) | 7 (11.7) |
|
|
I live at home with the social service support (eg, food) | 7 (6.9) | — | 7 (11.7) |
|
|
I live at home but I receive a homecare service (eg, SCUDO) | 8 (7.9) | 4 (9.8) | 4 (6.7) |
|
|
I live in a retirement house | 3 (3.0) | 1 (2.4) | 2 (3.3) |
| Day center attendance (yes), n (%) | 51 (50.5) | 18 (43.9) | 33 (55) | |
| Background origin, n (%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swiss-German | 7 (6.7) | 2 (4.9) | 5 (8.3) |
|
|
Swiss-Italian | 49 (48.5) | 18 (48.9) | 31 (51.7) |
|
|
Italian (Italy) | 25 (24.8) | 13 (31.7) | 12 (20.0) |
|
|
German (Germany) | 1 (1.0) | 1 (2.4) | — |
|
|
French (France) | 1 (1.0) | — | 1 (1.7) |
|
|
Other origins | 18 (17.8) | 7 (17.1) | 11 (18.3) |
| Educational level, n (%) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
No degree obtained | 9 (8.7) | 1 (2.4) | 8 (13.3) |
|
|
Primary school degree | 39 (38.6) | 15 (36.6) | 24 (40.0) |
|
|
Apprenticeship degree | 22 (21.8) | 10 (24.4) | 12 (20.0) |
|
|
College or similar degree | 19 (18.8) | 11 (26.8) | 8 (13.3) |
|
|
Applied university degree | 1 (1.0) | — | 1 (1.7) |
|
|
University of polytechnic degree | 11 (10.9) | 4 (9.8) | 7 (11.7) |
| Health-related profession (yes), n (%) | 13 (12.9) | 5 (12.2) | 8 (13.3) | |
| Doctor-patient relationship length (years), mean (SD) | 17.5 (11.8) | 14.7 (11.4) | 19.5 (11.7)b | |
| Doctor visits a year, mean (SD) | 3.6 (3.2) | 3.5 (3.1) | 3.6 (3.2) | |
aNo participants apply to item.
bP=.047.