Abstract
Health information-seeking behavior (HISB) is active need-fulfillment behavior whereby health information is obtained from diverse sources, such as the media, and has emerged as an important issue within the transforming medical environment and the rise of medical consumers. However, little is known about the factors that affect HISB and its associations, and the health outcome of HISB. The aim of this study was to examine individual and social contextual factors associated with HISB and to systematically review their effects on health status among post- treatment cancer patients. Individual determinants of HISB included demographic factors, psychosocial factors, perceived efficacy and norms, and health beliefs. Contextual determinants of HISB encompassed community characteristics, neighborhood social capital, and media advocacy. Improving through factors on these two levels, HISB raised individuals' self-care management skills and medical treatment compliance, and enhanced shared decision-making and medical treatment satisfaction. Moreover, because HISB can differ according to individuals' social contextual conditions, it can give rise to communication inequalities. Because these can ultimately lead to health disparities between groups, social interest in HISB and balanced HISB promotion strategies are necessary.
Highlights
Health knowledge is necessary for personal healthcare management
The aim of this study was to examine individual and social contextual factors associated with Health information-seeking behavior (HISB) and to systematically review their effects on health status among posttreatment cancer patients
This paper examines individual and contextual factors affecting those HISBs in order to comprehend their impact on a population’s health status, thereby exploring which mechanisms of the social structure set those HISBs into motion
Summary
Health knowledge is necessary for personal healthcare management. The public obtains such health knowledge from healthcare providers, and through daily media exposure. Numerous advanced countries spotlight health informationseeking behaviors (HISBs) as a key element of health communication. Doctors acted as the sole providers of health information, but technological advances in communication and information dissemination created an environment that offers diverse sources of information related to health management (Fallowfield et al, 1995). It is necessary to have a precise understanding of cancer patients’ and individuals’ HISBs and to examine multidimensional factors associated therewith, thereby making them available for use in health promotion campaigns. This paper examines individual and contextual factors affecting those HISBs in order to comprehend their impact on a population’s health status, thereby exploring which mechanisms of the social structure set those HISBs into motion
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