Adoption of online health information: A systematic literature review

The rapid diffusion of digital technologies has made online health information adoption a central topic in public health communication research. Using the PRISMA approach, this study systematically reviews 26 empirical studies on online health information adoption to summarize major research themes, theoretical frameworks, and core variables and to construct an integrated model of influencing mechanisms. The results show that research on this topic has grown steadily, reflecting increasing scholarly attention to how individuals engage with online health information in diverse digital environments. The findings further demonstrate that adoption behavior is not shaped by a single determinant but emerges from dynamic interactions among three mechanisms: individual motivation, cognitive evaluation, and social context. Motivational factors highlight the roles of health beliefs, risk perception, and self-efficacy as key internal drivers. The cognitive dimension underscores the foundational influence of information quality, source credibility, and perceived usefulness. The social-context dimension emphasizes external influences such as trust, social support, and subjective norms that shape individuals’ judgments and behavioral intentions. The review also reveals a clear trend toward theoretical integration, showing a shift from early cognition-centered models to multilayered frameworks that link motivational, cognitive, and social mechanisms. This integrative movement suggests that understanding online health information adoption requires a comprehensive perspective that accounts for both individual-level processing and socially embedded decision-making. Overall, this review enriches the theoretical landscape of digital health communication by offering a synthesized understanding of the multilayered mechanisms underlying online health information adoption and provides important implications for building credible, inclusive, and health-promoting digital environments.