Sociodemographic differences in exposure to health information

Objective: Baseline data from the Heart Attack REACT Study provided the opportunity to explore population subgroup differences in exposure to health information in an ethnically diverse sample from 5 regions across the United States. Methods: During the 4-month baseline period of the REACT study, some 1,200 residents from the 20 study communities were surveyed using random digit dial telephone methods. Respondents were asked to recall health messages seen and/or heard recently, and the sources of these messages. Comparisons were made between sociodemographic subgroups defined by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, work status, and geographic location. Results: Except for education level differences, the amount of exposure to health information did not vary significantly by sociodemographics; however, significant variation among subgroups in the types of messages cited and the sources of these messages was observed. Minority and low-income groups were found to have less exposure to chronic disease prevention information, eg, on nutrition, exercise, and heart disease. Additionally, the sources of health information most popular among sociodemographic subgroups appeared to be a determining factor in the types of messages received. Conclusions: The results of these analyses support previous findings, adding to the sparse body of information on the best channels for reaching under-served populations.