Consumer health information needs: A systematic review of measures

Health Information Repertoires of Implant Patients: Toward a Deeper Understanding of Multiple Source Use and the Role of Health-Related Motives

Health information-seeking behavior can be understood as an active and purposeful acquisition of information from selected information sources. It supports patients to cope with medical and health-related uncertainties and enables them to engage in informed decision-making. To obtain health information, patients can turn to a variety of sources, such as going to a physician, exchanging information with their family, or using different Internet sources. Research showed that patients typically use multiple sources to meet their health-related information needs. To attain a holistic and differentiated picture of patients' actual health information behavior, the current study draws on the repertoire approach. We conducted an online survey with 1,105 implant patients and performed a cluster analysis to explore their health information repertoires. To gain a deeper understanding of the practical meaning behind the repertoires, we also considered health-related information motives and socio-structural factors, as well as the implant type (dental, orthopedic, cochlear), to characterize the repertoires. The study revealed seven different health information repertoires of implant patients, varying in their combination of multiple sources used. In addition, group comparisons showed that the repertoires differ significantly regarding socio-structural factors, such as gender, age, and education, as well as implant type. Furthermore, information motives contribute significantly to the differentiation of the repertoires. The results are of high theoretical potential for communication science as well as practical use for strategic health communication.

How do health content creators perform well? An integration research of short video and livestream behaviors

Introduction

Short-video platforms have demonstrated vast potential for health education. To meet diverse user requirements, many short-video platforms have integrated livestreaming functionalities. This integration presents challenges for health content creators in formulating effective performance strategies, including decisions about which format to use (short video or livestream) and what type of content to produce. This study utilizes panel data from a prominent short-video platform in China to empirically investigate the impact of different forms and content characteristics on the performance of health content creators.

Methods

We conducted an empirical analysis using panel data obtained from a leading short-video platform in China. Our analysis focused on understanding how the behaviors associated with short videos and livestreaming impact the performance of health content creators. We examined form-level differences, analyzing the distinct roles of short video and livestreaming behaviors. Additionally, we explored content-level characteristics, investigating the effects of content coverage, health knowledge content, and advertising content on both short-term and long-term performance. The moderation effects of the creator's occupation and certification type were also analyzed.

Results

Our form-level analysis revealed that health creators' behaviors in short videos and livestreaming play distinct roles in their performance. Livestreaming behaviors resulted in short-term economic returns, while short video behaviors had a more significant effect on follow-ups, which are often viewed as long-term, more sustainable performance indicators. Content-level analysis showed that content coverage and health knowledge content enhance long-term performance but do not increase short-term performance. Conversely, advertising content was found to be essential for securing short-term financial income. The study also identified that the creator's occupation and certification type moderate the impact of content on performance.

Conclusion

This study integrates two media forms (short video and livestream), providing direct insights into the performance of health content creators in the realm of health education. Health content creators need to strategically balance their use of short videos and livestreaming to optimize both short-term and long-term performance outcomes. Specifically, increasing content coverage and health knowledge can enhance long-term engagement, while incorporating advertising content is crucial for immediate financial gains.

Bibliometric analysis confirms expected trends in consumer health information publications

BACKGROUND

This study provides an overview of consumer health information (CHI) scholarly communication trends.

OBJECTIVES

To explore CHI publications trends, journal citations, prolific authors, countries of origin, and distribution of CHI publications.

METHODS

A bibliometric analysis was used; 8953 records from the Web of Science (WoS) and peer-reviewed journal articles from databases, including LISA, MEDLINE, ERIC, PREMEDLINE and EMBASE were analysed.

RESULTS

Publications on CHI rapidly increased from 1980 to 2019, especially during the 1990s and 2000s. Most journals that have published CHI research are based in North America and Europe.

CONCLUSION

The increase in the CHI literature corresponds with that in Internet usage in the 2000s, and explains the availability of CHI content online. This trend is associated with the widespread adoption of personal computers (PCs) and other Internet-enabled gadgets.

The predation relationship between online medical search and online medical consultation-empirical research based on Baidu platform data

Introduction

This study investigates the mutual influence between online medical search and online medical consultation. It focuses on understanding the health information needs that drive these health information-seeking behaviors by utilizing insights from behavioral big data.

Methods

We used actual behavioral data from Chinese internet users on Baidu platform's "Epidemic Index" from November 26, 2022, to January 25, 2023. Data modeling was conducted to ensure the reliability of the model. Drawing on the logistic model, we constructed a foundational model to quantify the evolutionary patterns of online medical search and online medical consultation. An impact function was defined to measure their mutual influence. Additionally, a pattern detection experiment was conducted to determine the structure of the impact function with maximum commonality through data fitting.

Results

The analysis allowed us to build a mathematical model that quantifies the nonlinear correlation between online medical search and online medical consultation. Numerical analysis revealed a predation mechanism between online medical consultation and online medical search, highlighting the role of health information needs in this dynamic.

Discussion

This study offers a novel practical approach to better meet the public's health information needs by understanding the interplay between online medical search and consultation. Additionally, the modeling method used here is broadly applicable, providing a framework for quantifying nonlinear correlations among different behaviors when appropriate data is available.

Health Communication in an Era of Disinformation: Perceived Source Credibility Among Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals

This study examines perceived source credibility of health information in a moment of TGD health disinformation. Through thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 30 transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals, findings suggest health information is marred by anti-TGD legislation, a sociopolitical force that bleeds into health information spaces. Disinformation and TGD health communication are intertwined in complex ways, whereby disinformation can undermine trust in healthcare institutions, lead to harmful behaviors, and contribute to the spread of diseases. Health communication practitioners need to center the safety and humanity of TGD people, addressing TGD health disinformation.

Clarifying the Relationship Between Information Seeking and Avoidance: Longitudinal Analyses of Information Behaviors and Their Normative Influences

Information seeking and avoidance are relevant behaviors to cope with health crises. While there are various assumptions about their relationship, past research has not yet analyzed their interplay. The present study aims to clarify the relationship between information seeking and avoidance in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and shed light on whether both behaviors are impacted by seeking- and avoidance-related norms, which are known factors in individuals' health- and risk-related behaviors. Based on a four-wave panel study conducted among German residents (n = 492), we investigated information seeking and avoidance and their normative influences from a longitudinal perspective. Results of random intercept cross-lagged panel models suggest that information seeking and avoidance are distinct, not causally related but correlated concepts. This understanding is supported by the findings that seeking- and avoidance-related norms operate differently for seeking and avoidance. The results add to construct clarification and theory development, but more research is needed to understand the relations between information behaviors.

Generation Z's Health Information Avoidance Behavior: Insights From Focus Group Discussions

BACKGROUND

Younger generations actively use social media to access health information. However, research shows that they also avoid obtaining health information online at times when confronted with uncertainty.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the phenomenon of health information avoidance among Generation Z, a representative cohort of active web users in this era.

METHODS

Drawing on the planned risk information avoidance model, we adopted a qualitative approach to explore the factors related to information avoidance within the context of health and risk communication. The researchers recruited 38 participants aged 16 to 25 years for the focus group discussion sessions.

RESULTS

In this study, we sought to perform a deductive qualitative analysis of the focus group interview content with open, focused, and theoretical coding. Our findings support several key components of the planned risk information avoidance model while highlighting the underlying influence of cognition on emotions. Specifically, socioculturally, group identity and social norms among peers lead some to avoid health information. Cognitively, mixed levels of risk perception, conflicting values, information overload, and low credibility of information sources elicited their information avoidance behaviors. Affectively, negative emotions such as anxiety, frustration, and the desire to stay positive contributed to avoidance.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has implications for understanding young users' information avoidance behaviors in both academia and practice.

Customization options in consumer health information materials on type-2 diabetes mellitus-an analysis of modifiable features in different types of media

Introduction

The understanding of health-related information is essential for making informed decisions. However, providing health information in an understandable format for everyone is challenging due to differences in consumers' health status, disease knowledge, skills, and preferences. Tailoring health information to individual needs can improve comprehension and increase health literacy.

Objective

The aim of our research was to analyze the extent to which consumers can customize consumer health information materials (CHIMs) for type-2 diabetes mellitus through various media types.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search for various CHIMs across various media types, such as websites, apps, videos, and printed or printable forms. A representative sample of CHIMs was obtained for analysis through blocked randomization across the various media types. We conducted a quantitative content analysis to determine the frequency of user-centered customization options. Cross-comparisons were made to identify trends and variations in modifiable features among the media.

Results

In our representative sample of 114 CHIMs, we identified a total of 24 modifiable features, which we grouped into five main categories: (i) language, (ii) text, (iii) audiovisual, (iv) presentation, and (v) medical content. Videos offered the most customization opportunities (95%), while 47% of websites and 26% of apps did not allow users to tailor health information. None of the printed or printable materials provided the option to customize the information. Overall, 65% of analyzed CHIMs did not allow users to tailor health information according to their needs.

Conclusion

Our results show that CHIMs for type-2 diabetes mellitus could be significantly improved by providing more customization options for users. Further research is needed to investigate the effectiveness and usability of these options to enhance the development and appropriate provision of modifiable features in health information.

An empirical investigation into the preferences of the elderly for user interface design in personal electronic health record systems

Background

With the continuous advancement of digital technologies, electronic Personal Health Records (ePHR) offer end-users greater control and convenience over their health data. Although ePHR are perceived as innovative tools in medical services that provide patient-centered care and disease prevention, many system interfaces are inclined toward younger users, overlooking investigations pertinent to elderly users. Our objective is to uncover the preferences of the elderly for an ideal ePHR system interface.

Materials and methods

Relying on a literature review, we identified six interface attributes. Utilizing conjoint analysis, we constructed 16 representative design scenarios based on orthogonal design by combining different attribute levels. We invited 187 elderly participants to evaluate these scenarios. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0. The results indicate that among the ePHR interface design attributes, the elderly prioritize color attributes, followed by the notification method. Designs with contrasting color schemes, skeuomorphic design approaches, and icon-centric menu navigation with segmented layouts, and voice notifications when a message is received, are the most preferred interface design choices.

Discussion

This research elucidates the ideal interface design elements for ePHR as perceived by the elderly, offering valuable references for age-friendly design considerations in ePHR systems.

Results

Implementing these insights can aid in promoting mobile health services among the elderly demographic, enhancing their user experience in health management interfaces. This, in turn, fosters the widespread adoption of mobile health service technologies, further advancing the development of a healthy aging society.

Health information-seeking behavior among people living with the two common chronic diseases in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

The main aim of this review was to systematically collect and summarize the available evidence on health information-seeking behavior among people living with the two common types of chronic diseases in LMICs.

Methods

For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and forward and backward citations from included studies. The preferred reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) procedure were followed to develop and report the review. The pooled effect size and the effect's 95% confidence interval were calculated using a random-effect model meta-analysis for each research. A sub-group analysis was done to investigate potential sources of heterogeneity. To identify publication bias, Egger-weighted regression tests were employed.

Results

A total of 4281 articles were retrieved, with ten studies meeting the eligibility criteria for qualitative synthesis and only seven studies were eligible for the meta-analysis. The pooled extent of health information-seeking behavior among chronic disease patients was 50.5% (95% CI: 35.36-65.70, p = 0.00), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 98.25). Based on the sub-group analysis, it was found that 55% (95% CI: 29.9-79.4) of cancer patients and 40% (95% CI: 36.9%-43.9%) of DM patients sought out health-related information. In studies conducted before 2015, the level of health information seeking was 49%, increasing to 52% (95% CI: 41.0%-62.2%) after 2015.

Conclusion

The overall health information seeking behavior among diabetes and cancer patients has increased over time, but remains relatively low, with only nearly half actively seeking information. The findings also emphasize that patients require health-related information on various topics.. Health educators and health professionals should consider this diversity when developing interventions and educational materials to provide patients with the most comprehensive information and education regarding their healthcare issues.

Protocol registration number

CRD42023433169.

Consumers' longitudinal health information needs and seeking: a scoping review

Needing and seeking health information often is a longitudinal everyday life information behavior that involves the use of technology. However, no reviews of consumers' longitudinal health information needs (HIN) and health information-seeking (HIS) behavior have been conducted. We performed a scoping review to address this gap. Specifically, we surveyed the characteristics, timeline construction and research findings of studies investigating consumers' longitudinal HIN and HIS. Initial searches were conducted in November 2019 and updated in July 2022. A total of 128 papers were identified, reviewed and analyzed using content and thematic analyses. Results showed that most papers were quantitative, conducted in the USA, related to cancer, conducted during the diagnosis and treatment phases, and followed preset time intervals. Findings concerning the development patterns of consumers' HIN degrees and HIS effort were mixed (i.e. increasing, decreasing or being consistent over time). They seemed to be shaped by factors such as health conditions, data collection methods and the length of data collection. Consumers' use of sources changes depending on health status and source accessibility; their medical terminologies seem to expand over time. HIS has a strong emotional dimension which may lead to adaptive or maladaptive information behaviors (e.g. information avoidance). Overall, the results revealed a lack of understanding of HIN and HIS from a longitudinal perspective, particularly along health condition progression and coping trajectories. There is also a lack of understanding of the role of technologies in the longitudinal HIS process.

Evaluation of driver demand for in-vehicle information: An integrated method combining clustering and multivariate ordered probit model

INTRODUCTION

The proper execution of driving tasks requires information support. While new technologies have increased the convenience of information access, they have also increased the risk of driver distraction and information overload. Meeting drivers' demands and providing them with adequate information are crucial to driving safety.

METHODS

Based on a sample of 1,060 questionnaires, research on driving information demands is conducted from the perspective of drivers. A principal component analysis and the entropy method are integrated to quantify the driving information demands and preferences of drivers. The K-means classification algorithm is selected to classify the different types of driving information demands, including dynamic traffic information demands (DTIDs), static traffic information demands (STIDs), automotive driving status information demands (ATIDs), and total driving information demands (TDIDs). Fisher's least significant difference (LSD) is used to compare the differences in the numbers of self-reported crashes among different driving information demand levels. A multivariate ordered probit model is established to explore the potential factors that influence the different types of driving information demand levels.

RESULTS

The DTID is the driver's most in-demand information type, and accordingly, gender, driving experience, average driving mileage, driving skills, and driving style significantly affect the driving information demand levels. Moreover, the number of self-reported crashes decreased as the DTID, ATID, and TDID levels decreased.

CONCLUSION

Driving information demands are affected by a variety of factors. This study also provides evidence that drivers who have higher driving information demands are more likely to drive more carefully and safely than their counterparts who do not exhibit high driving information demands.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The results are indicative of the driver-oriented design of in-vehicle information systems and the development of dynamic information services as a way to avoid negative impacts on driving.

Barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours among cancer patients: A systematic review

Objective: Disparities in cancer care contribute to higher rates of cancer mortality. Online health information would be a resource for cancer patients to obtain knowledge and make health decisions. However, factors that hinder or facilitate online searching behaviours among patients remain unexplored. The current systematic review aims to identify and synthesise evidence of cancer patients' barriers to and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus) were systematically searched, and a total of 123 full-text studies were reviewed of which 24 met the inclusion criteria. Results: Thematic analysis was performed to identify barriers and facilitators of online health information-seeking behaviours. Seven key themes were identified: (1) socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, income, ethnicity and language), (2) psychosocial aspects (psychological wellbeing, need for a face to face contact, motivation, support), (3) accessibility (Internet access, residence), (4) quality and quantity of information (amount, reliability), (5) cancer stage and symptoms (time since diagnosis, experiencing symptoms), (6) aspects related to healthcare professionals (relationship with the patients and opinions on online health information) and (7) digital literacy (computer skills and literacy). Conclusions: Findings underscore the significance of recognising the multifaceted nature of barriers and facilitators affecting cancer patients' online health information-seeking behaviours. A strong link between these factors and cancer patients' ability to make informed decisions and cope effectively with their diagnosis emerged. Consequently, addressing these barriers and leveraging the identified facilitators could lead to improvements in patient-centred care, ultimately contributing to better healthcare services and informed decision-making for cancer patients. Future research should prioritise exploring strategies for enhancing cancer care accessibility across all stakeholders involved.

Registration

CRD42023408091.

Investigating pregnant women’s health information needs during pregnancy on internet platforms

Artificial intelligence gives pregnant women another avenue for receiving healthcare information. With the advancement of information and communication technology, searching online for pregnancy information has become commonplace during COVID-19. This study aimed to explore pregnant women’s information-seeking behavior based on data mining and text analysis in China. Posts on maternal and infant-related websites were collected during 1 June 2020, and 31 January 2021. A total of 5,53,117 valid posts were obtained. Based on the data, we performed correlation analysis, topic analysis, and sentiment analysis. The correlation analysis showed the positive effects of population, population with a college education or above, and GDP on post counts. The topic analysis extracted six, nineteen, eighteen, thirteen, eleven, sixteen, thirteen, sixteen, nineteen, and fourteen topics in different months of pregnancy, reflecting different information needs in various pregnancy periods. The results of sentiment analysis show that a peak of the posts emerged in the second month of pregnancy and the proportion of emotionally positive posts reached its peak in the sixth month of pregnancy. The study provides important insights for understanding pregnant women’s information-seeking behavior.

Extending artificial intelligence research in the clinical domain: a theoretical perspective

Academic research to the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) has been proliferated over the past few years. While AI and its subsets are continuously evolving in the fields of marketing, social media and finance, its application in the daily practice of clinical care is insufficiently explored. In this systematic review, we aim to landscape various application areas of clinical care in terms of the utilization of machine learning to improve patient care. Through designing a specific smart literature review approach, we give a new insight into existing literature identified with AI technologies in the clinical domain. Our review approach focuses on strategies, algorithms, applications, results, qualities, and implications using the Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modeling. A total of 305 unique articles were reviewed, with 115 articles selected using Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modeling, meeting our inclusion criteria. The primary result of this approach incorporates a proposition for future research direction, abilities, and influence of AI technologies and displays the areas of disease management in clinics. This research concludes with disease administrative ramifications, limitations, and directions for future research.

Online Health Information Seeking Among Patients With Chronic Conditions: Integrating the Health Belief Model and Social Support Theory

BACKGROUND

Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability. With the growing patient population and climbing health care expenditures, researchers and policy makers are seeking new approaches to improve the accessibility of health information on chronic diseases while lowering costs. Online health information sources can play a substantial role in effective patient education and health communication. However, some contradictory evidence suggests that patients with chronic conditions may not necessarily seek online health information.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to integrate 2 theories (ie, the health belief model and social support theory) and a critical health literacy perspective to understand online health information seeking (OHIS) among patients with chronic conditions.

METHODS

We used the survey method to collect data from online chronic disease communities and groups on social media platforms. Eligible participants were consumers with at least 1 chronic condition and those who have experience with OHIS. A total of 390 valid questionnaires were collected. The partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The results suggested that perceived risk (t=3.989, P<.001) and perceived benefits (t=3.632, P<.001) significantly affected patients' OHIS. Perceived susceptibility (t=7.743, P<.001) and perceived severity (t=8.852, P<.001) were found to influence the perceived risk of chronic diseases significantly. Informational support (t=5.761, P<.001) and emotional support (t=5.748, P<.001) also impacted the perceived benefits of online sources for patients. In addition, moderation analysis showed that critical health literacy significantly moderated the link between perceived risk and OHIS (t=3.097, P=.002) but not the relationship between perceived benefits and OHIS (t=0.288, P=.774).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the health belief model, when combined with social support theory, can predict patients' OHIS. The perceived susceptibility and severity can effectively explain perceived risk, further predicting patients' OHIS. Informational support and emotional support can contribute to perceived benefits, thereby positively affecting patients' OHIS. This study also demonstrated the important negative moderating effects of critical health literacy on the association between perceived risk and OHIS.

How users make judgements about the quality of online health information: a cross-sectional survey study

BACKGROUND

People increasingly use the Internet to seek health information. However, the overall quality of online health information remains low. This situation is exacerbated by the unprecedented "infodemic", which has had negative consequences for patients. Therefore, it is important to understand how users make judgements about health information by applying different judgement criteria.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to determine how patients apply different criteria in their judgement of the quality of online health information during the pandemic. In particular, we investigate whether there is consistency between the likelihood of using a particular judgement criterion and its perceived importance among different groups of users.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in one of the leading hospitals in a coastal province of China with a population of forty million. Combined-strategy sampling was used to balance the randomness and the practicality of the recruiting process. A total of 1063 patients were recruited for this study. Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis analyses were used to analyse the survey data.

RESULTS

In general, patients make quality judgement of health information more frequently based on whether it is familiar, aesthetic, and with expertise. In comparison, they put more weights on whether health information is secure, trustworthy, and with expertise when determining its quality. Criteria that were considered more important were not always those with a higher likelihood of being used. Patients may not use particular criteria, such as familiarity, identification, and readability, more frequently than others even if they consider them to be more important than other do and vice versa. Surprisingly, patients with a primary school degree put more weight on whether health information is comprehensive than those with higher degrees do in determining its quality. However, they are less likely to use this guideline in practice.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the consistency between the likelihood of using certain quality judgement criteria and their perceived importance among patients grouped by different demographic variables and eHealth literacy levels. The findings highlight how to improve online health information services and provide fine-grained customization of information for users.

Usability evaluation of two new presentation modes of scientific articles for academic reading

Purpose

This study developed two presentation modes of scientific articles and evaluated their usability with user experiments.

Design/methodology/approach

Two presentation modes of scientific articles, simply referred to as “genre presentation mode” and “argument presentation mode”, were constructed based on their genre structure and argument structure respectively. Their usability was evaluated by being compared against the existing RichHTML presentation mode in the experiments using eye-tracking and questionnaire methods.

Findings

The participants who were going to find the specific information of scientific articles rated the genre presentation mode higher than they did with either the argument or the RichHTML presentation mode for effectiveness. In contrast, those who were going to understand the general idea of scientific articles rated both the genre and argument presentation mode higher than they did with the RichHTML mode. In terms of efficiency, the participants took less reading time when the articles of non-native language were presented with the genre mode than they did when the articles were presented with the argument mode. When reading the articles in native language to understand the general idea, the participants took less reading time for the articles presented with the argument mode than they did for the articles presented with the genre mode. In comparison, they took less reading time when the articles were presented with the argument mode if they were going to find specific information. For satisfaction, the genre presentation mode was more popular than the argument mode and the RichHTML mode. However, the participants were less satisfied with the argument presentation mode than the other two when reading in native language and intending to find specific information.

Originality/value

The two presentation modes of scientific articles are found to improve the accuracy of information acquisition, shorten the total reading time and be more acceptable by readers.

Examining the Development of Information Needs Assessment Questionnaires in Oncology: Protocol for a Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Information needs are one of the most prevalent unmet supportive care needs of those living with cancer, including patients and their informal caregivers. Understanding how existing questionnaires for evaluating information needs have been developed is important for guiding appropriate use and informing future research. A literature review examining how information needs assessment questionnaires for use in the cancer context have been developed, with a specific focus on how questionnaire items have been identified, does not exist.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review will examine how questionnaires for assessing the information needs of those living with cancer have been developed with special focus on how patients, informal caregivers, and health care professionals have been involved in the selection and identification of questionnaire items.

METHODS

This review will include published studies describing the development and validation of information needs assessment questionnaires for use in the oncology context. MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and PsycInfo will be searched. Articles published at any point up to the date of the search will be eligible for inclusion. One person will screen titles and abstracts, and 2 people will screen and extract data from full-text articles.

RESULTS

Results are expected to be available in early 2023. Summary tables and a narrative summary will be used to describe results.

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review will assist in identifying appropriate information needs assessment tools to incorporate into clinical and research contexts in oncology. It will also identify if additional information needs assessment tools are needed.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/35639.

Chatbot as an emergency exist: Mediated empathy for resilience via human-AI interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic

As a global health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic has also made heavy mental and emotional tolls become shared experiences of global communities, especially among females who were affected more by the pandemic than males for anxiety and depression. By connecting multiple facets of empathy as key mechanisms of information processing with the communication theory of resilience, the present study examines human-AI interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to understand digitally mediated empathy and how the intertwining of empathic and communicative processes of resilience works as coping strategies for COVID-19 disruption. Mixed methods were adopted to explore the using experiences and effects of Replika, a chatbot companion powered by AI, with ethnographic research, in-depth interviews, and grounded theory-based analysis. Findings of this research extend empathy theories from interpersonal communication to human-AI interactions and show five types of digitally mediated empathy among Chinese female Replika users with varying degrees of cognitive empathy, affective empathy, and empathic response involved in the information processing processes, i.e., companion buddy, responsive diary, emotion-handling program, electronic pet, and tool for venting. When processing information obtained from AI and collaborative interactions with the AI chatbot, multiple facets of mediated empathy become unexpected pathways to resilience and enhance users’ well-being. This study fills the research gap by exploring empathy and resilience processes in human-AI interactions. Practical implications, especially for increasing individuals’ psychological resilience as an important component of global recovery from the pandemic, suggestions for future chatbot design, and future research directions are also discussed.

Online Health Information Seeking for Self and Child: An Experimental Study of Parental Symptom Search

BACKGROUND

Parents often search the web for health-related information for themselves or on behalf of their children, which may impact their health-related decision-making and behaviors. In particular, searching for somatic symptoms such as headaches, fever, or fatigue is common. However, little is known about how psychological and relational factors relate to the characteristics of successful symptom-related internet searches. To date, few studies have used experimental designs that connect participant subjective search evaluation with objective search behavior metrics.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the features of web-based health-related search behaviors based on video-coded observational data, to investigate which psychological and relational factors are related to successful symptom search appraisal, and to examine the differences in search-related outcomes among self-seekers and by-proxy seekers.

METHODS

In a laboratory setting, parents living in Austria (N=46) with a child aged between 0 and 6 years were randomized to search their own (n=23, 50%) or their child's (n=23, 50%) most recent somatic symptom on the web. Web-based activity was recorded and transcribed. Health anxiety, eHealth literacy, attitude toward web-based health information, relational variables, state of stress, participants' search appraisals, and quantitative properties of the search session were assessed. Differences in search appraisals and search characteristics among parents who searched for themselves or their children were examined.

RESULTS

Across both groups, searches were carried out for 17 different symptom clusters. Almost all parents started with Google (44/46, 96%), and a majority used initial elaborated key phrases with >1 search keyword (38/45, 84%) and performed on average 2.95 (SD 1.83) search queries per session. Search success was negatively associated with health anxiety (r_s=-0.39, P=.01), stress after the search (r_s=-0.33, P=.02), and the number of search queries (r_s=-0.29, P=.04) but was not significantly associated with eHealth literacy (r_s=0.22, P=.13). Of note, eHealth literacy was strongly and positively correlated with satisfaction during the search (r_s=0.50, P<.001) but did not significantly correlate with search characteristics as measured by search duration (r_s=0.08, P=.56), number of performed search queries (r_s=0.20, P=.17), or total clicks (r_s=0.14, P=.32). No differences were found between parents searching for their own symptoms and parents searching for their child's symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides exploratory findings regarding relevant dimensions of appraisals for symptom-based information seeking on the web. Consistent with previous literature, health anxiety was found to be associated with poorer search evaluation. Contrary to expectations, eHealth literacy was related neither to search success nor to search characteristics. Interestingly, we did not find significant differences between self-seekers and by-proxy seekers, suggesting similar search and evaluation patterns in our sample. Further research with larger samples is needed to identify and evaluate guidelines for enhanced web-based health information seeking among parents and the general public.

Online Health Information Seeking Behaviors Among Older Adults: Systematic Scoping Review

Background

With the world’s population aging, more health-conscious older adults are seeking health information to make better-informed health decisions. The rapid growth of the internet has empowered older adults to access web-based health information sources. However, research explicitly exploring older adults’ online health information seeking (OHIS) behavior is still underway.

Objective

This systematic scoping review aims to understand older adults’ OHIS and answer four research questions: (1) What types of health information do older adults seek and where do they seek health information on the internet? (2) What are the factors that influence older adults’ OHIS? (3) What are the barriers to older adults’ OHIS? (4) How can we intervene and support older adults’ OHIS?

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed in November 2020, involving the following academic databases: Web of Science; Cochrane Library database; PubMed; MEDLINE; CINAHL Plus; APA PsycINFO; Library and Information Science Source; Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts; Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection; Communication & Mass Media Complete; ABI/INFORM; and ACM Digital Library. The initial search identified 8047 publications through database search strategies. After the removal of duplicates, a data set consisting of 5949 publications was obtained for screening. Among these, 75 articles met the inclusion criteria. Qualitative content analysis was performed to identify themes related to the research questions.

Results

The results suggest that older adults seek 10 types of health information from 6 types of internet-based information sources and that 2 main categories of influencing factors, individual-related and source-related, impact older adults’ OHIS. Moreover, the results reveal that in their OHIS, older adults confront 3 types of barriers, namely individual, social, and those related to information and communication technologies. Some intervention programs based on educational training workshops have been created to intervene and support older adults’ OHIS.

Conclusions

Although OHIS has become increasingly common among older adults, the review reveals that older adults’ OHIS behavior is not adequately investigated. The findings suggest that more studies are needed to understand older adults’ OHIS behaviors and better support their medical and health decisions in OHIS. Based on the results, the review proposes multiple objectives for future studies, including (1) more investigations on the OHIS behavior of older adults above 85 years; (2) conducting more longitudinal, action research, and mixed methods studies; (3) elaboration of the mobile context and cross-platform scenario of older adults’ OHIS; (4) facilitating older adults’ OHIS by explicating technology affordance; and (5) promoting and measuring the performance of OHIS interventions for older adults.

Utilization of social media communities for caregiver information support in stroke recovery: An analysis of content and interactions

Background

Caregivers often use the internet to access information related to stroke care to improve preparedness, thereby reducing uncertainty and enhancing the quality of care.

Method

Social media communities used by caregivers of people affected by stroke were identified using popular keywords searched for using Google. Communities were filtered based on their ability to provide support to caregivers. Data from the included communities were extracted and analysed to determine the content and level of interaction.

Results

There was a significant rise in the use of social media by caregivers of people affected by stroke. The most popular social media communities were charitable and governmental organizations with the highest user interaction–this was for topics related to stroke prevention, signs and symptoms, and caregiver self-care delivered through video-based resources.

Conclusion

Findings show the ability of social media to support stroke caregiver needs and practices that should be considered to increase their interaction and support.

The Digital Divide and Seeking Health Information on Smartphones in Asia: Survey Study of Ten Countries

Background

Although recent developments in mobile health have elevated the importance of how smartphones empower individuals to seek health information, research investigating this phenomenon in Asian countries has been rare.

Objective

The goal of our study was to provide a comprehensive profile of mobile health information seekers and to examine the individual- and country-level digital divide in Asia.

Methods

With survey data from 10 Asian countries (N=9086), we ran multilevel regression models to assess the effect of sociodemographic factors, technological factors, and country-level disparities on using smartphones to seek health information.

Results

Respondents who were women (β=.13, P<.001), parents (β=.16, P<.001), employed (β=.08, P=.002), of higher social status (β=.08, P<.001), and/or from countries with low health expenditures (β=.19, P=.02) were more likely to use smartphones to seek health information. In terms of technological factors, technology innovativeness (β=.10, P<.001) and frequency of smartphone use (β=.42, P<.001) were important factors of health information seeking, whereas the effect of online information quality was marginal (β=–.04, P<.001).

Conclusions

Among smartphone users in Asia, health information seeking varies according to individuals’ socioeconomic status, their innovativeness toward technology, and their frequency of smartphone use. Although smartphones widen the digital divide among individuals with different socioeconomic status, they also bridge the divide between countries with varying health expenditures. Smartphones appear to be a particularly useful complement to manage health in developing countries.

Experience of discomfort and its self-management strategies in ICU patients

Introduction:

Discomfort in patients admitted to the ICU occurs due to various reasons and leads to a stressful situation in these patients. Discomfort significantly affects the ability to cope psychologically, the process, and results of treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of discomfort and its self-management strategies in patients admitted to the ICU.

Methods:

This qualitative study was conducted in the period of September 2019 to December 2020 through in-depth interviews with 13 patients admitted to the ICU who were selected by purposive sampling. Interviews continued until data saturation. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using MAXQDA18 software by the conventional Lundman and Graneheim content analysis method.

Results:

The two main themes including “hospitalization with anxiety” and “coping with the horror of ICU” emerged from the uncomfortable experiences of patients admitted to the intensive care unit. “Hospitalization with anxiety” included five subthemes: “fear of disability and possible death,” “separation from family,” “understanding ambiguity and contradiction in treatment,” “environmental disruptors,” and “painful and unfamiliar devices and treatments.” “Coping with the horror of ICU” included three subthemes: “recourse to spirituality,” “benefiting from psychosocial coping,” and “information search.”

The causes, impacts and countermeasures of COVID-19 "Infodemic": A systematic review using narrative synthesis

An unprecedented infodemic has been witnessed to create massive damage to human society. However, it was not thoroughly investigated. This systematic review aims to (1) synthesize the existing literature on the causes and impacts of COVID-19 infodemic; (2) summarize the proposed strategies to fight with COVID-19 infodemic; and (3) identify the directions for future research. A systematic literature search following the PRISMA guideline covering 12 scholarly databases was conducted to retrieve various types of peer-reviewed articles that reported causes, impacts, or countermeasures of the infodemic. Empirical studies were assessed for risk of bias using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool. A coding theme was iteratively developed to categorize the causes, impacts, and countermeasures found from the included studies. Social media usage, low level of health/eHealth literacy, and fast publication process and preprint service are identified as the major causes of the infodemic. Besides, the vicious circle of human rumor-spreading behavior and the psychological issues from the public (e.g., anxiety, distress, fear) emerges as the characteristic of the infodemic. Comprehensive lists of countermeasures are summarized from different perspectives, among which risk communication and consumer health information need/seeking are of particular importance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed and future research directions are suggested.

Characteristics of the Measurement Tools for Assessing Health Information-Seeking Behaviors in Nationally Representative Surveys: Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has also emerged as an infodemic, thereby worsening the harm of the pandemic. This situation has highlighted the need for a deeply rooted understanding of the health information-seeking behaviors (HISBs) of people.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper was to review and provide insight regarding methodologies and the construct of content in HISB surveys by answering the following research question: what are the characteristics of the measurement tools for assessing HISBs in nationally representative surveys around the world?

METHODS

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was used as the framework for this study. A data search was performed through 5 international and 2 Korean databases covering the years between 2008 and 2020. Initially, studies performed among nationally representative samples were included to discover HISB survey instruments. The methodologies of the studies using HISB surveys were analyzed. For content analysis, 2 researchers reached a consensus through discussion by scrutinizing the contents of each survey questionnaire.

RESULTS

A total of 13 survey tools from 8 countries were identified after a review of 2333 records from the search results. Five survey tools (Health Information National Trends Survey, Health Tracking Survey, Annenberg National Health Communication Survey, National Health Interview Survey, and Health Tracking Household Survey) from the United States, 2 instruments from Germany, and 1 tool from each of the countries of the European Union, France, Israel, Poland, South Korea, and Taiwan were identified. Telephone or web-based surveys were commonly used targeting the adult population (≥15 years of age). From the content analysis, the domains of the survey items were categorized as follows: information (information about health and patient medical records), channel (offline and online), and health (overall health, lifestyle, and cancer). All categories encompassed behavioral and attitude dimensions. A theoretical framework, that is, an information-channel-health structure for HISBs was proposed.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study can contribute to the development and implementation of the survey tools for HISB with integrated questionnaire items. This will help in understanding HISB trends in national health care.

Characteristics of the health information seeking behavior of LGBTQ+ individuals: a systematic review on information types, information sources and influencing factors

Purpose

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals' health information seeking is an important topic across multiple disciplines and areas. The aim of this systematic review is to create a holistic view of sexual and gender minority individuals' health information seeking reported in multidisciplinary studies, with regard to the types of health information LGBTQ+ individuals sought and information sources they used, as well as the factors influencing their health information seeking behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The review is based on the literature search in 10 major academic databases. A set of inclusion and exclusion criteria was applied to identify studies that provide evidence on LGBTQ+ individuals' health information seeking behavior. The studies were first screened by title and abstract to determine whether they met the inclusion criteria. The full texts of each relevant study were obtained to confirm whether the exclusion criteria were met. The reference lists of the included studies were manually scanned. The relevant information was then extracted from selected articles and analyzed using thematic content analysis.

Findings

A seed set of 3,122 articles published between 1997 and 2020 was evaluated, and 46 total articles were considered for further analysis. The review results show that two major categories of health information sought by LGBTQ+ individuals were sexual and nonsexual, which were further classified into 17 specific types. In terms of health information sources, researchers have reported that online resources, interpersonal sources and traditional media were frequently used. Moreover, 25 factors affecting LGBTQ+ individuals' health information seeking were identified from the literature.

Originality/value

Through evidence-based understanding, this review preliminarily bridged the knowledge gap in understanding the status quo of studies on LGBTQ+ individuals' health information seeking and proposed the potential research directions that information science researchers could contribute to this important area.

Few changes shown in cancer information-seeking behaviour among young adults in China between 2012 and 2017

BACKGROUND

The increasing incidence of cancer among young adults (18-40 years old) is of concern in China.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to examine the influence of cancer information-seeking behaviours (CISB) on young adults' worries about cancer and participation in screening.

METHODS

This study analysed data from two probability sample surveys conducted in 2012 and 2017 in China. The questions in the questionnaire remained the same for better comparison. The sample size was 1212 in the 2012 survey, and 2178 in the 2017 survey.

RESULTS

From 2012 to 2017, among young adults, there was a decline in cancer information seeking, diversity of cancer information sought and cancer worry, while an improvement in cancer information-seeking experience was found. Also, CISB had significant associations with cancer worry and health screening over the 5 years.

DISCUSSION

The level of young adults' cancer information seeking remains low in China, and this group is not fully aware of their potential risks of getting cancer.

CONCLUSION

Although young adults find the experience of looking for cancer information easier in 2017, health campaigns may be necessary to encourage young adults to find out more about their cancer risks, and to participate more in health screening.

Information needs and services for autism in China: is there any gap between them?

Purpose

This study aims to explore the gap between information needs and services for autism in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The gap is revealed by investigating the status quo of autism information needs and services. The authors extracted categories and subcategories of information needs through content analysis of academic documents and then supplemented the subcategories through text mining of an online forum. Meanwhile, categories and subcategories of information services were extracted through content analysis of autism websites. Finally, the authors matched the two to explore the gap and designed a quantitative index to measure it.

Findings

A total of eight and ten categories of information needs and services are extracted, respectively. In total, six categories of information needs can be partly matched, but nearly half of the subcategories failed. Huge gaps in economic support, sociality and policy mechanisms categories are observed through the quantitative index and medium gaps in social resource services and employment categories while almost no gaps in psychological/emotional counseling, rehabilitation skills training and professional knowledge/information categories.

Originality/value

This study takes a deep insight into the gap between autism information needs and services in China, providing evidences and suggestions for information providers to improve their services. Academic documents and online forum data are adopted to avoid the impact of stigmatization, which provides a multi-source data analysis approach for the information needs of special groups.

Information-Seeking Patterns During the COVID-19 Pandemic Across the United States: Longitudinal Analysis of Google Trends Data

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people’s lives at unprecedented speed and scale, including how they eat and work, what they are concerned about, how much they move, and how much they can earn. Traditional surveys in the area of public health can be expensive and time-consuming, and they can rapidly become outdated. The analysis of big data sets (such as electronic patient records and surveillance systems) is very complex. Google Trends is an alternative approach that has been used in the past to analyze health behaviors; however, most existing studies on COVID-19 using these data examine a single issue or a limited geographic area. This paper explores Google Trends as a proxy for what people are thinking, needing, and planning in real time across the United States.

Objective

We aimed to use Google Trends to provide both insights into and potential indicators of important changes in information-seeking patterns during pandemics such as COVID-19. We asked four questions: (1) How has information seeking changed over time? (2) How does information seeking vary between regions and states? (3) Do states have particular and distinct patterns in information seeking? (4) Do search data correlate with—or precede—real-life events?

Methods

We analyzed searches on 38 terms related to COVID-19, falling into six themes: social and travel; care seeking; government programs; health programs; news and influence; and outlook and concerns. We generated data sets at the national level (covering January 1, 2016, to April 15, 2020) and state level (covering January 1 to April 15, 2020). Methods used include trend analysis of US search data; geographic analyses of the differences in search popularity across US states from March 1 to April 15, 2020; and principal component analysis to extract search patterns across states.

Results

The data showed high demand for information, corresponding with increasing searches for coronavirus linked to news sources regardless of the ideological leaning of the news source. Changes in information seeking often occurred well in advance of action by the federal government. The popularity of searches for unemployment claims predicted the actual spike in weekly claims. The increase in searches for information on COVID-19 care was paralleled by a decrease in searches related to other health behaviors, such as urgent care, doctor’s appointments, health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. Finally, concerns varied across the country; some search terms were more popular in some regions than in others.

Conclusions

COVID-19 is unlikely to be the last pandemic faced by the United States. Our research holds important lessons for both state and federal governments in a fast-evolving situation that requires a finger on the pulse of public sentiment. We suggest strategic shifts for policy makers to improve the precision and effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions and recommend the development of a real-time dashboard as a decision-making tool.

Not just for the money? An examination of the motives behind physicians’ sharing of paid health information

Online platforms make it possible for physicians to share online information with the public, however, few studies have explored the underlying mechanism of physicians’ sharing of paid health information. Drawing on motivation theory, this study developed a theoretical framework to explore the effects of extrinsic motivation, enjoyment, and professional motivation on the sharing of paid information, as well as the contingent role of income ratio (online to offline) and online reputation. The model was tested with both objective and subjective data, which contain responses from 298 physicians. The results show that extrinsic motivation, enjoyment, and professional motivation play significant roles in inducing physicians to share paid information. Furthermore, income ratio can moderate the effects of motives on paid information sharing. Besides, the effect of professional motivation can be more effective in certain situations (low-level income ratio or high online reputation). This study contributes to the literature on knowledge sharing, online health behaviour, and motivation theory, and provides implications for practitioners.

Toward a conceptual framework of health crisis information needs: an analysis of COVID-19 questions in a Chinese social Q&A website

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand how the contextual factors of health crisis information needs are different from a general health context and how these factors work together to shape human information needs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected the COVID-19-related questions posted on a Chinese social Q&A website for a period of 90 days since the pandemic outbreak in China. A qualitative thematic approach was applied to analyze the 1,681 valid questions using an open coding process.

Findings

A taxonomy of information need topics for a health crisis context that identifies 8 main categories and 33 subcategories was developed, from which four overarching themes were extracted. These include understanding, clarification and preparation; affection expression of worries and confidence; coping with a challenging situation and resuming normal life; and social roles in the pandemic. The authors discussed the differences between a health crisis and a normal health context shaping information needs. Finally, a conceptual framework was developed to illustrate the typology, nature and triggers of health crisis information needs.

Research limitations/implications

First, only the Baidu Zhidao platform was investigated, and caution is advised before assuming the generalizability of the results, as the questioners of Baidu Zhidao are not representative of the whole population. Furthermore, since at the time of writing the COVID-19 is still in an emerging and evolving situation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020), the collected data included only a relatively small sample size compared to the post-pandemic period, and this might have impact on the interpretation of the study’s findings.

Practical implications

The study’s taxonomy of information needs provides a reference for indexing and organizing related information during a disaster.

Social implications

The study helps authoritative organizations track and send information in social media and to inform about policies related to the pandemic (e.g., quarantine and traffic control policies in our study) to the right people in the right regions and settings when the next disaster emerges.

Originality/value

The taxonomy of information need topics for a health crisis context can be used to index and organize related information during a disaster and support many information agents to enhance their information service practices. It also deepens the understanding of the formation mechanism of information needs during a global health crisis.

The impact of health information needs' satisfaction of hypertensive patients on their clinical outcomes

Purpose

The ultimate aim of this study is to investigate how health information needs’ satisfaction actually makes a difference to the patients' management of a chronic clinical condition. The literature falls short of providing evidence on the interaction between patients' health information seeking behaviour and the successful management of a clinical condition. On the other hand, patient education and good information seeking practices are deemed necessary for hypertension management daily decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

A specially designed questionnaire study was developed: The survey design was informed by the information seeking behaviour model of Wilson for studying hypertension patients' information needs, information resources and obstacles patients face while seeking hypertension-related information. Moreover, clinical information was collected in order to make associations and inference on the impact of information seeking on patients' clinical outcomes.

Findings

The study included 111 patients submitted to the outpatient hypertension clinic of a university hospital in Athens for a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM). The analysis showed that those reporting higher satisfaction level of their information needs achieved lower values in ABPM (ABPM<130/80mmHg, p = 0.049). Stepwise the logistic regression analysis revealed three independent factors to predict the possibility of being optimally treated (ABPM<130/80mmHg). Dipping status (OR: 14.052, 95% CI: 4.229–46.688, p = 0.0001) patients with high satisfaction level of their disease (OR: 13.450, 95% CI: 1.364–132.627, p = 0.026) and interpersonal relationships were used as the main source of information (OR: 1.762, 95% CI: 1.024–3.031, p = 0.41).

Originality/value

Hypertensive patients with high satisfaction level of information achieve better disease control. Among different sources of information, interpersonal relationships emerge as the most appropriate factor for patients' disease control.

Effects of message framing and evidence type on health information behavior: the case of promoting HPV vaccination

Purpose

Based on the examination of the roles of message framing and evidence type, this study made an analysis of the promotion methods of intention and information need towards HPV vaccination.

Design/methodology/approach

The study conducted a 2 (gain-framed messages vs loss-framed messages) × 2 (statistical evidence vs narrative evidence) quasi-experimental design built upon theories of message framing and evidence type. This experiment recruited college students who were not vaccinated against HPV as participants. The analysis of variance (ANOVA), the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and the independent sample T-test were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results (N = 300) indicate that (1) Loss-framed messages will lead to a more favorable intention towards HPV vaccination than gain-framed messages. (2) Statistical evidence will lead to a more explicit information need than narrative evidence. (3) Message framing and evidence type will interact and (a) for statistical evidence, loss-framed messages will lead to a more favorable intention towards HPV vaccination than gain-framed messages and (b) for narrative evidence, gain-framed messages will lead to a more favorable intention towards HPV vaccination than loss-framed messages. (4) Message framing and evidence type will interact and (a) for loss-framed messages, statistical evidence will stimulate more explicit information need of HPV vaccination than narrative evidence and (b) for gain-framed messages, narrative evidence will stimulate more explicit information need of HPV vaccination than statistical evidence.

Originality/value

This paper can help to further understand the important roles of message framing and evidence type in health behavior promotion. The study contributes to the literature on how health information can be well organized to serve the public health communication and further enhance the health information service.

From information seeking to information avoidance: Understanding the health information behavior during a global health crisis

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The study examines the factors leading to information avoidance during COVID-19 pandemic.

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Mass Media, Print Media and official websites are used for information seeking during the pandemic.

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Only Social Media exposure results in information overload and information anxiety.

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Information overload is strongly associated with information anxiety which gives rise to information avoidance.

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We extend the applicability of S-O-R model to the information behavior domain, especially during the uncertain times.

Individuals seek information for informed decision-making, and they consult a variety of information sources nowadays. However, studies show that information from multiple sources can lead to information overload, which then creates negative psychological and behavioral responses. Drawing on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework, we propose a model to understand the effect of information seeking, information sources, and information overload (Stimuli) on information anxiety (psychological organism), and consequent behavioral response, information avoidance during the global health crisis (COVID-19). The proposed model was tested using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) for which data were collected from 321 Finnish adults using an online survey. People found to seek information from traditional sources such as mass media, print media, and online sources such as official websites and websites of newspapers and forums. Social media and personal networks were not the preferred sources. On the other hand, among different information sources, social media exposure has a significant relationship with information overload as well as information anxiety. Besides, information overload also predicted information anxiety, which further resulted in information avoidance.

Information needs and oral epithelial dysplasia: Development and psychometric evaluation of a novel instrument

OBJECTIVES

Oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) can lead to significant information needs (IN) related to the risk of cancer development, the need for long-term monitoring and potential intervention. The present study aimed to develop and perform preliminary psychometric testing for a novel IN instrument specific to OED.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Patients diagnosed with OED were invited to complete the Oral Epithelial Dysplasia Informational Needs Questionnaire (ODIN-Q), which was developed based on a known theoretical framework and with items generated via expert input and the literature. Face validity and content validity were initially assessed prior to finalisation of the tool. ODIN-Q was tested for internal consistency and test-retest reliability along with construct validity.

RESULTS

ODIN-Q consists of 35 items, categorised under six domains, and rated by dual 4-point Likert scales (amount of information received and degree of importance). Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was rated "excellent" for the scale (0.93) and both subscales (0.92/0.94). For test-retest reliability, moderate agreement was found (κ = 0.49-0.53). Regarding construct validity, a significant but limited relationship was found between ODIN-Q and the Krantz Health Opinion Survey.

CONCLUSION

ODIN-Q showed adequate psychometric properties of reliability and validity. Further validation is, however, needed to assess its structural validity and responsiveness.

What motivates Chinese consumers to avoid information about the COVID-19 pandemic?: The perspective of the stimulus-organism-response model

This study investigated consumers' information-avoidance behavior in the context of a public health emergency-the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Guided by the stimulus-organism-response paradigm, it proposes a model for exploring the effects of external stimuli (perceived threat and perceived information overload) related to COVID-19 on consumers' internal states (sadness, anxiety, and cognitive dissonance) and their subsequent behavioral intentions to avoid health information and engage in preventive behaviors. With a survey sample (N = 721), we empirically examined the proposed model and tested the hypotheses. The results indicate that sadness, anxiety, and cognitive dissonance, which were a result of perceived threat and perceived information overload, had heterogeneous effects on information avoidance. Anxiety and cognitive dissonance increased information avoidance intention, while sadness decreased information avoidance intention. Moreover, information avoidance predicted a reluctance on the part of consumers to engage in preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings not only contribute to the information behavior literature and extend the concept of information avoidance to a public health emergency context, but also yield practical insights for global pandemic control.

Promoting users' intention to share online health articles on social media: The role of confirmation bias

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Users with a high level of eHealth literacy are more likely to share positive health articles when they have extreme confirmation bias.

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Users with a high level of eHealth literacy are more likely to share negative health articles when they have moderate confirmation bias or no confirmation bias.

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Users with a low level of eHealth literacy are more likely to share health articles regardless of positive or negative content valence when they have moderate positive confirmation bias.

Nowadays, it is a common practice for healthcare professionals to spread medical knowledge by posting health articles on social media. However, promoting users’ intention to share such articles is challenging because the extent of sharing intention varies in their eHealth literacy (high or low) and the content valence of the article that they are exposed to (positive or negative). This study investigates boundary conditions under which eHealth literacy and content valence help to increase users’ intention to share by introducing a moderating role of confirmation bias—a tendency to prefer information that conforms to their initial beliefs. A 2 (eHealth literacy: high vs. low) × 2 (content valence: positive vs. negative) between-subjects experiment was conducted in a sample of 80 participants. Levels of confirmation bias ranging from extreme negative bias to extreme positive bias among the participants were assessed during the experiment. Results suggested that: (1) users with a high level of eHealth literacy were more likely to share positive health articles when they had extreme confirmation bias; (2) users with a high level of eHealth literacy were more likely to share negative health articles when they had moderate confirmation bias or no confirmation bias; (3) users with a low level of eHealth literacy were more likely to share health articles regardless of positive or negative content valence when they had moderate positive confirmation bias. This study sheds new light on the role of confirmation bias in users’ health information sharing. Also, it offers implications for health information providers who want to increase the visibility of their online health articles: they need to consider readers’ eHealth literacy and confirmation bias when deciding the content valence of the articles.

The Antecedents of Poor Doctor-Patient Relationship in Mobile Consultation: A Perspective from Computer-Mediated Communication

This study aims to understand the underlying reasons for poor doctor-patient relationships (DPR). While extant studies on antecedents of poor DPR mainly focus on the offline context and often adopt the patients' perspective, this work focuses on the mobile context and take both doctors' and mobile consultation users' perspectives into consideration. To fulfill this purpose, we first construct a theoretical framework based on the Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) literature. Then we coded 592 doctor-user communication records to validate and elaborate the proposed theoretical model. This work reveals that characteristics of mobile technologies pose potential challenges on both doctors' and patients' information providing, informative interpreting, and relationship maintaining behaviors, resulting in 10 and 6 types of inappropriate behaviors of doctors and users, respectively, that trigger poor DPR in the mobile context. The findings enrich the research on online DPR and provide insights for improving DPR in the mobile context.