An Investigation of Student Perceptions of Health Care Reform: New Findings and New Directions

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session and Reception
  In Interactive Paper Session: Health Communication Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

Lack of knowledge about health care reform is quite common and health care reform uncertainty levels are high (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2013). The current research replicates and extends recent work about health care reform information seeking which demonstrated predicted outcome value is the best predictor of information seeking. Unlike the previous work, this data collection took place after health care reform implementation, uses a different sample, and includes new variables of interest (e.g., deviance, knowledge, involvement). Results suggest uncertainty levels have, interestingly, increased post-implementation, and students want to receive health care reform information from friends and family or online, from non-partisan sources, and in varied formats. The data also demonstrate that predicted outcome value of health care reform information, uncertainty tolerance, and involvement significantly predict intentions to seek information about health care reform. Implications of these findings as well as suggestions for future research are discussed.

Author

• Lindsay Neuberger, University of Central Florida