{
  "abstract": "Objective Online healthcare services significantly enhance patient satisfaction and reduce healthcare costs. This study aims to analyse the current utilisation of online healthcare services among patients and identify the associated influencing factors.Methods Data from the Chinese Social Survey 2021 (CSS2021) were used for descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression to determine factors influencing patients’ use of online healthcare services.Results A total of 3426 patients were included in this study, among whom 19.76% (677/3426) had used online healthcare services. Female patients outnumbered male patients regardless of whether they accessed healthcare services via online platforms. The average age of all respondents was 49.38 years (SD: 14.739). Among those who used online healthcare services, the majority were aged 31–40 years (182/677, 26.88%), while individuals over 40 years old were significantly less likely to use such services compared with those aged 21–30 years. Additionally, patients with moderate (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.99) or high education levels (OR 3.72, 95% CI 2.39 to 5.78), married patients (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.01), non-local residents (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.88), and frequent internet users were more likely to choose online healthcare services.Conclusion Based on an analysis of CSS2021 data, the utilisation of online healthcare services in China is influenced by a combination of factors. Therefore, efforts should focus on promoting these services to males, middle-aged and elderly populations, individuals with lower educational attainment, unmarried or non-married individuals and local residents, considering gender, age, education level, marital status and population mobility.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China",
        "Center for Big Data and Intelligent Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China",
        "Key Laboratory of Digital Health and Intelligent Medicine, Chongqing Municipal Health Commission, Chongqing, China",
        "Chongqing Translational Medicine Center, Chongqing, China"
      ],
      "name": "Hao Wei"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Center for Big Data and Intelligent Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China",
        "Key Laboratory of Digital Health and Intelligent Medicine, Chongqing Municipal Health Commission, Chongqing, China",
        "Chongqing Translational Medicine Center, Chongqing, China"
      ],
      "name": "Hao Wu"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Chinese patients’ use of online healthcare services: an empirical analysis based on Chinese Social Survey 2021 (CSS2021) data",
  "uid": "7e331352-8a26-5685-8c38-596e1e8675b6"
}