Background
Although much health information‐seeking behaviour (HISB) research has been reported in patients with good literacy skills, little is known about HISB in patients with limited literacy ...skills served by under‐resourced health‐care systems.
Objective
To investigate medicine information‐seeking behaviour and information needs in patients with limited literacy.
Methods
Using a question guide, four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to explore themes related to information needs, information‐seeking practices and awareness of and ability to utilize information sources. Twenty‐two isiXhosa‐speaking long‐term patients with limited formal education were recruited from a primary health‐care clinic in South Africa. Discussions were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. NVivo® was used for initial coding of transcripts. Codes were analysed, and potential themes and subthemes in the entire data set were identified and refined.
Findings
The results of this study reflect a passive, disempowered patient. Poor awareness of information sources, lack of health‐related knowledge and stigma contributed to a lack of information‐seeking practice, thus potentially adversely influencing patient–provider interactions. Patients neither asked questions nor were encouraged to ask questions. All expressed an unmet need for information and a desire for receiving the illustrated written medicines‐related information displayed in the FGDs. The main sources of information were health‐care professionals, followed by family and friends.
Conclusion
The significant level of patient disempowerment and passivity reported amongst patients underpinned their inability to actively seek information. Neither sources of information nor types of appropriate medicines information could be identified. Unmet information needs and a desire for information were reported.
Predictors of the authenticity of Internet health rumours Zhang, Zili; Zhang, Ziqiong; Li, Hengyun
Health Information and Libraries Journal,
September 2015, 2015-Sep, 2015-09-00, 20150901, Letnik:
32, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Background
The Internet is becoming an important source of health information; however, unverified health rumours may be included in health‐related search results. There is a critical need to provide ...health information seekers with methods that are specifically geared towards the identification of the authenticity of health rumours.
Methods
Using 453 health rumours collected from a definitive online reference of rumours in China, this study investigates which features contribute to distinguishing between true and false rumours with a logistic regression model.
Results
There are measurable differences between true and false health rumours on the Internet. The lengths of rumour headlines and statements and the presence of pictures are negatively correlated to the probability that a rumour is true, whereas a rumour is more likely to be true if it contains elements such as numbers, source cues and hyperlinks. Finally, dread health rumours are more likely to be true than wish ones.
Conclusions
Despite the growing number of studies on rumours, the identification of the authenticity of rumours has received little attention. This study proposes some rules of thumb to help online users ascertain rumour veracity and make decisions.
This study suggested that social media can provide important information about autism to autistic people. We interviewed 12 autistic adults (aged 18-49 years) and talked to them about the use of ...social media to find both general information and content specifically about autism, autism identity and online autistic communities. There is little research exploring how autistic people find information about autism on social media and how that makes them feel. Therefore, it is important to ask autistic people about their experiences with using social media to obtain content about autism. The 12 participants explained that when they searched for information about autism on the official health pages, they often felt that the information they found was insufficient and could not answer their questions. In addition, they searched on social media platforms for information about autism despite that they perceived social media as an unreliable source. On the social media platforms, many found content that was positive in relation to their autistic identities. The participants also found comfort in some of the forums and social media groups and received helpful advice. Nevertheless, some of the discussions were aggressive and the participants felt alienated, which did not provide a sense of community online. The findings from the study may advice on what is missing in the official pages about autism, and highlight the need to involve the autistic community in writing the content on such platforms.
PurposeThis paper provides new insights on trust formation during information-seeking processes of informal caregivers of people with dementia and identifies the sources of information deemed as ...trustworthy by caregivers.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a phenomenological qualitative approach in the form of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a sample of 20 informal caregivers.FindingsCaregivers trust sources that are perceived as authoritative and particularly value the information and advice provided by other caregivers. Trust in information can be divided into subjective and objective, but both are important precursors to the actual use of the information. The information available to caregivers is sufficient in quantity but inadequate in terms of ease of use, clarity and usefulness. Often, some key information needs remain unsatisfied due to the lack of timeliness, relevance and personalisation of the information.Practical implicationsThis paper provides recommendations for information and healthcare providers on how to improve communication and information relevance for informal caregivers of people with dementia.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to a more comprehensive perspective on caregivers’ information trust formation processes, which takes into account both the characteristics of the information and caregivers’ individual factors.
Introduction
The present study aimed to identify the puberty related information seeking behaviour of adolescent female members of Zarrinshahr public libraries.
Methodology
Using a phenomenology ...approach, this study sought to identify the puberty related information seeking behaviours for a population of female adolescent public library patrons located in the Middle East. The data were collected via event based interviews and the samples were selected by purposeful sampling method. After converting the audio to text, the transcripts were imported into MAXQDA 10, they were coded and then, the relevant categories were extracted.
Results
The information needs of girls experiencing puberty were identified and divided into four thematic categories: health issues, psychological issues, religious issues (religious precepts), and issues related to physical activity. Girls get this information from a variety of resources such as people, the Internet, social networks, documents, and libraries. The process of information seeking is so problematic for them because they are faced with content, family, social, and financial barriers and mainly lack Internet literacy and search skills.
Conclusion
Health information seeking constitutes the main part of adolescent girls’ daily lives. Identification of adolescent girls’ health information needs, the main channels of information seeking, and the barriers the girls face while information seeking can help public libraries adopt the right policies regarding the provision of health information services.
Purpose - The purpose of this review is to draw out patterns of information seeking behavior of graduate students as described in the empirical research published from 1997 to the present.Design ...methodology approach - A systematic search of databases for studies on information behavior and graduate students was employed in order to retrieve studies for a systematic review. Common themes that emerged from the literature were synthesized into a discussion of behavior patterns. Additionally a study quality analysis was conducted for all retrieved studies using a critical appraisal checklist for library and information research.Findings - This review revealed that graduate students begin their research on the internet much like any other information seeker, consult their faculty advisors before other people, and use libraries in diverse ways depending on the discipline studied. Additionally differences were noted between international and home students, and doctoral and master's students.Practical implications - The findings of this review indicate that information behavior research conducted on graduate students should delineate between masters' and doctoral students. Further, the findings may inform both academic librarian and faculty practice as to how to assist students with their research by helping them to understand how students typically approach research and how other institutions address common issues with special populations, such as non-native speakers and distance learners.Originality value - No comprehensive review of information behavior studies, encompassing only the behaviors of graduate students has been conducted to date.
INTRODUCTION The trend of seeking health information through the Internet has been continuously increasing worldwide among college youth, especially during the ongoing Covid19 pandemic.
INTRODUCTION The trend of seeking health information through the Internet has been continuously increasing worldwide among college youth, especially during the ongoing Covid19 pandemic.
Aim
The aim of this research was to explore clinicians' experiences of parents' online health information seeking (OHIS) behaviour about selective dorsal rhizotomy for the management of cerebral ...palsy.
Methods
Using qualitative methodology, clinicians likely to have had experience with parents requesting selective dorsal rhizotomy were invited to participate in semi‐structured interviews. Interviews with 13 clinicians were recorded, transcribed and inductive content analysis was used to identify, code and organise the data into themes.
Results
Participants highlighted how parental OHIS was changing clinical communication. Negative effects included a shift in clinicians' attention from giving advice and guidance to spending time discussing online findings, justifying how this information applies to a particular child and managing parents' judgments about clinical views. Positive effects included more collaboration and sharing of ideas. These results are presented in three main themes: (i) the informed parent; (ii) the clinicians' role; and (iii) a new clinical dynamic.
Conclusion
This research reinforces the notion that OHIS is changing the communication dynamic and clinicians' and parents' roles within the clinical encounter. Of significance was the number of challenges clinicians are facing as a result of online information, including managing parental understanding of non‐evidenced information and responding to negative feedback about their practice. This research suggests a need for educational support and ongoing professional development for clinicians to assist them to adjust to new goals and expectations of clinical interactions with ‘informed’ parents.
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