Learning about health

This paper examines the extent of patients' health-related learning from a range of sources and aims to identify psycho-cognitive variables that predict learning. Using a survey design, we found that people higher in perceived health competence were lower in anxiety and took a more logical approach to decision making. Low perceived health competence was associated with avoidant decision making. Levels of learning were predicted by perceived health competence, decision-making orientations and anxiety. Perceived health competence was a significant positive predictor of both learning from health professionals and of learning from other sources, such as the internet. Rational decision-making orientation and anxiety, however, were not associated with learning from medical professionals but were predictive of levels of learning from other sources. Highly dependent decision makers reported learning more from their medical professionals. The implications for theory and practice are explored.