Health information seeking behaviors of ethnically diverse adolescents

Is There a Relationship Between Online Health Information Seeking and Health Anxiety? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The internet has revolutionized how we live, providing unprecedented convenience and up-to-date information. Consequently, an increasing number of individuals are turning to the internet for health-related information, despite research suggesting a correlation between this behavior and health anxiety. Therefore, drawing on cognitive - behavioral theory, we explore the link between online health information seeking and health anxiety via a systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis, we ran searches in multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Elsevier/Science Direct, Cochrane Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Chinese Database, and Wanfang Data. Our searches identified 16 studies eligible for review, involving 4,920 participants across seven countries. The random-effects meta-analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between online health information seeking and health anxiety (r = 0.28, 95% confidence interval [0.16, 0.41], p < .0001), despite considerable heterogeneity. Furthermore, meta-regression analysis demonstrated that the identity characteristics of the sample, female percentage, sample size, and country all contributed to the heterogeneity across studies. Overall, this meta-analysis provides support for the association between online health information seeking and health anxiety, and helps to elucidate the cognitive - behavioral theory underpinning this phenomenon.

General health literacy scale for Thais and comparison between age groups

Background

Health literacy (HL) has captured the world's interest since it was first defined by WHO in 1998. In Thailand, a number of HL scales for risk groups have been developed but none for the general population. Therefore, this research aimed to develop a general health literacy (GHL) scale for Thais and compare HL levels between groups, i.e. students, youth, adults, and older.

Methods

In this mixed-methods study, a focus group was conducted with 20 health policy-makers. Data were collected from 4,000 participants from all regions of Thailand through questionnaires between 2018 and 2019. The participants were divided into 4 age groups: aged 7-14, 15-24, 25-59, and 60-75. All of them were selected using stratified random sampling. Data analysis was performed using CFA and ANOVA.

Results

1) The GHL Scale for Thais comprised 47 items, covering 5 domains i.e. access to health information and services, understanding of health information and service leading to practice, health information and service appraisal, communication and social support, and health self-management. The scale had high Cronbach's alpha values for all participants and different age groups (Cronbach's alpha = 0.95-0.97) and factor loadings ranging from 0.45 to 0.77. 2) Most Thai people (58.9%) had a fair level of HL, followed by high HL (24.3%) and low HL (16.8%). 3) The comparison of HL among age groups had different mean scores (P < .05) and low HL was found in adults (25.00%), older (18.60%), youth (12.60%), and students (11.40%), respectively.

Conclusion

The GHL Scale for Thais can be used to screen people of all ages for potential health problems and develop strategies for promoting health resilience and preventing disease in each age group.

A qualitative study of the health information seeking behaviour of adolescent girls in Iran indicates that public libraries could help supply information required about puberty

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.

Improving adolescent knowledge and attitude toward the intergenerational cycle of undernutrition through audiovisual education: findings from RESEPIN study in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Background:

Adolescent health and nutrition contribute to the intergenerational cycle of undernutrition.

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of audiovisual education on adolescent knowledge and attitude toward the intergenerational cycle of undernutrition.

Material and Methods:

A clustered quasi-experimental study with a pre-and posttest design in Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Participants were female adolescent students enrolled in Grade 7 at two junior high schools in Sentolo (n = 120) and Kalibawang (n = 96) subdistricts. We provided six topics related to adolescent health and nutrition throughout six online meetings for the intervention and control groups. In addition, the intervention group received audiovisual education through recorded videos, whereas the control group received education through e-leaflets following the online meetings. We assessed adolescent knowledge and attitude during pre-and posttest evaluations using Google Forms. Paired t-test was performed to analyze the data.

Results:

Both audiovisual and e-leaflet educations increased adolescent knowledge and attitude. Adolescents who received audiovisual education had significantly higher knowledge (P = 0.046) and attitude (P = 0.034) scores than adolescents who received education through e-leaflets.

Conclusions:

The audiovisual education intervention improved adolescent knowledge and attitude toward the intergenerational cycle of undernutrition than using e-leaflets.

Mapping Information Needs of Patients With Sexually Transmitted Infections Using Web-Based Data Sources: Grounded Theory Investigation

Background

According to the World health organization (WHO), more than 1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired each day across the world. The incidence rates of STIs in the United States are at a record high for the fourth consecutive year. Owing to the stigma associated with the incidence of STI, there is a general reluctance to seek information in person. Instead, web-based information sources remain the primary avenues of information-seeking. However, these sources are designed without a comprehensive understanding of the information needs of individuals who have contracted STIs.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the information needs of individuals who have or suspect they have contracted an STI. A better understanding of their information needs can drive the design of more effective digital interventions.

Methods

This is a qualitative and analytical study of 549 transcripts (consisting of queries posted over the last 10 years) from web-based forums of the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA), which allows patients, volunteers, and health care providers connect anonymously. The analysis follows a grounded theory (GT) approach with multiple coding stages to uncover categories and themes.

Results

Three categories of information needs emerged. The first two, clinical and logistical, are similar to other contexts. However, our analysis shows that there is a significant need for the last category—psychosocial information. Approximately 59% of instances are linked to concerns such as confusion, discretion, remorse, and others. These needs vary across the stages of a patient’s journey from symptom manifestation to treatment maintenance.

Conclusions

Responding to the needs of individuals who have or suspect they have contracted an STI requires compassionate and personalized responses (beyond factual clinical and logistical information). Web-based forums provide anonymity but do not adequately incorporate mechanisms, practices, or incentives to respond to diverse psychosocial concerns. Innovative approaches to add such support can make the digital interventions more effective for this group of individuals.

Study of health information needs among adolescents in Croatia shows distinct gender differences in information seeking behaviour

BACKGROUND

Understanding the health information needs of adolescents is the first step towards providing them with relevant information to aid them in their decision making regarding health issues.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study is to assess adolescents' needs, perceptions and sources of health information.

METHODS

Four hundred sixty-nine high school students in Osijek, Croatia, participated in this study by answering a questionnaire. The collected data were analysed using basic frequency and non-parametric statistical methods.

RESULTS

The most popular health topics identified by adolescents in our study were nutrition, diseases, depression, relationships, sexual intercourse and alcohol. Adolescents consider their parents the most reliable personal source of health information (72.0%), while they perceive the Internet as the main non-personal source of health information (29.8%). Adolescents wish to get more education about health issues at school (54.4%). Significant gender differences were found in adolescents' needs, perceptions and sources of health information.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to provide adolescents with systematic institutional health education and improve health advisory services and library/information services to assist adolescents in locating health information and resolving their health related questions.

No Regrets When It Comes to Your Health: Anticipated Regret, Subjective Norms, Information Insufficiency and Intent to Seek Health Information from Multiple Sources

Research suggests that a search for health information from diverse sources is crucial for obtaining accurate and quality information. As a result, this study examines motivators of intentions to use multiple information sources. Our guiding framework is the planned risk information seeking model, which poses a direct relationship between seeking-related subjective norms and information seeking intentions, and an indirect relationship between those two variables through information insufficiency (or perceived need for more information). To further explore these relationships, we integrate a novel variable, anticipated regret, as an additional mediator of both relationships. The information seeking behavior of interest in this study is intention to seek information through multiple sources. Survey results from 379 undergraduate students show that seeking-related subjective norms are positively related with information insufficiency through regret, and positively related with seeking intent through regret and information insufficiency. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Health literacy in a complex digital media landscape: Pediatric obesity patients’ experiences with online weight, food, and health information

This study aimed to explore experiences with online information regarding food, weight management, and health in a group of adolescents in treatment for obesity. Individual semi-structured interviews with 20 adolescents were conducted. Participants used a screen-recorded laptop to demonstrate their search procedures and online information sources. The transcribed interviews were categorized using qualitative content analysis. The adolescents described both encouraging and discouraging experiences. On one hand, they said that online forums could provide nutritious meal ideas and inspiration as well as social support for behavior change. On the other hand, they mentioned that there was a confusing amount of misleading commercial content online and also experiences of peer-facilitated food marketing in online networks. An overarching theme was generated: social media might be a resource for health inspiration, health information, and social support, but requires awareness and competencies. Implications for clinical practice are discussed in light of these findings.

College Students' Health Information Activities on Facebook: Investigating the Impacts of Health Topic Sensitivity, Information Sources, and Demographics

College students tend to lack access to health information. Because social networking sites (SNSs) are popularly adopted by college students, SNSs are considered to be good media channels for college students to obtain health-related information. This study examines the factors that influence college students' health information-seeking and -sharing activities on Facebook. An online survey was distributed to college students between the ages of 18 and 29 to determine intentions pertaining to health information activities according to the factors identified for the study. The factors included both contextual factors (such as health topic sensitivity and health information sources) as well as user factors (such as demographics). Our findings showed that college students are willing to read and post health-related information on Facebook when the health topic is not sensitive. In addition, there are clear differences in preferences between professional sources and personal sources as health information sources. It was found that most user factors, except gender, have no influence on health information activities. The impacts of SNS contexts, awareness of information sources, types of interlocutors, and privacy concerns are further discussed.