Perceived Active Control over Online Health Information: Underlying Mechanisms of Mode Tailoring Effects on Website Attitude and Information Recall

Abstract

Previous tailoring research has traditionally studied effects of system-initiated message content to match individual characteristics. Recently scholars have explored how tailoring health information to individual modality preferences and processing styles can increase message effectiveness. Using a web-based experiment among a representative sample of Internet users (N = 392; 25–86 years), this study investigated the underlying mechanisms that might explain the effects of mode tailoring on website attitudes and recall of online health information. Results from structural equation modeling showed that mode tailoring–enabling users to self-customize a health website’s presentation mode (via textual, visual, audiovisual information)–increased users’ perceived active control, which in turn contributed to higher perceived relevance and website engagement, and reduced cognitive load. Positive indirect effects of mode tailoring (vs. no tailoring) through these mechanisms were found for both website attitude and information recall. The findings suggest that perceived active control is the key driver of mode tailoring effects. Mode tailoring can be a promising and novel strategy to maximize the effectiveness of tailored health communications. The authors discuss the implications for theory and design of digital health information.