Purpose/significance The aim is to provide some inspirations for researchers and health educators in the field of user information behavior, and to provide theoretical background and basis for the crossover study of empathy and information behavior. Method/process This atudy uses a systematic review method to sort out 77 foreign empirical studies related to the empathy theory, sort out and analyze the relevant application and research status, and summarize the literature content combined with the empathy theory. Result/Conclusion The information behavior research framework of user empathy is proposed, and the information behavior of user empathy is studied from the three dimensions of user, information and technology. With the application of empathy in user information behavior, the information function of empathy will also be explored and developed.