Common Source Of Health Information Research Articles

Awareness of cancer among adolescents: A study of nine focus groups in Aotearoa New Zealand.

One third of cancers are potentially preventable by modifying key risk factors that arise during adolescence. To help inform prevention efforts, we investigated adolescents' understanding of cancer risk factors, symptoms and signs and barriers to help-seeking. Nine focus groups were conducted with purposefully sampled, binary-gendered friendship groups of 12 to 17-year-olds. Interviews were analysed using a qualitative descriptive method based on the topic schedule, transcripts and field notes. Behavioural, genetic and environmental factors were commonly explored as risk factors. Most cancer symptoms identified focused on physical indicators, such as lumps and skin appearance. Facilitators and barriers to good health choices involved both external and internal factors: education, affordability, attitudes and the social environment. Most participants indicated they would talk to trusted friends and family members about health issues, but only when the condition became 'serious'. The most common source of health information was the internet. Adolescents have a good understanding of behavioural risk factors, but poor knowledge of some key cancer symptoms. A support system was recognised to be a substantive factor in dealing with health issues, as were youth-focused health services. Understanding of the preventability of many cancers was not widespread with participants. SO WHAT?: The results emphasise a requirement for appropriate, affordable and accessible youth-focused health services. There is a need for age- and culturally appropriate interventions that improve knowledge of cancer symptoms. Immunisation against the viruses implicated in cervical cancer is one example of a clinical cancer prevention intervention in adolescence.

Content Quality of YouTube Videos About Pain Management After Cesarean Birth: Content Analysis.

YouTube is an increasingly common source of health information; however, the reliability and quality of the information are inadequately understood. Several studies have evaluated YouTube as a resource during pregnancy and found the available information to be of poor quality. Given the increasing attention to postpartum health and the importance of promoting safe opioid use after birth, YouTube may be a source of information for birthing individuals. However, little is known about the available information on YouTube regarding postpartum pain. The purpose of this study is to systematically evaluate the quality of YouTube videos as an educational resource for postpartum cesarean pain management. A systematic search of YouTube videos was conducted on June 25, 2021, using 36 postpartum cesarean pain management-related keywords, which were identified by clinical experts. The search replicated a default YouTube search via a public account. The first 60 results from each keyword search were reviewed, and unique videos were analyzed. An overall content score was developed based on prior literature and expert opinion to evaluate the video's relevance and comprehensiveness. The DISCERN instrument, a validated metric to assess consumer health information, was used to evaluate the reliability of video information. Videos with an overall content score of ≥5 and a DISCERN score of ≥39 were classified as high-quality health education resources. Descriptive analysis and intergroup comparisons by video source and quality were conducted. Of 73 unique videos, video sources included medical videos (n=36, 49%), followed by personal video blogs (vlogs; n=32, 44%), advertisements (n=3, 4%), and media (n=2, 3%). The average overall content score was 3.6 (SD 2.0) out of 9, and the average DISCERN score was 39.2 (SD 8.1) out of 75, indicating low comprehensiveness and fair information reliability, respectively. High-quality videos (n=22, 30%) most frequently addressed overall content regarding pain duration (22/22, 100%), pain types (20/22, 91%), return-to-activity instructions (19/22, 86%), and nonpharmacologic methods for pain control (19/22, 86%). There were differences in the overall content score (P=.02) by video source but not DISCERN score (P=.45). Personal vlogs had the highest overall content score at 4.0 (SD 2.1), followed by medical videos at 3.3 (SD 2.0). Longer video duration and a greater number of comments and likes were significantly correlated with the overall content score, whereas the number of video comments was inversely correlated with the DISCERN score. Individuals seeking information from YouTube regarding postpartum cesarean pain management are likely to encounter videos that lack adequate comprehensiveness and reliability. Clinicians should counsel patients to exercise caution when using YouTube as a health information resource.

WHAT ARE PATIENTS SEARCHING ON INTERNET IN RELATION TO URTICARIA? AN INFODEMIOLOGY ANALYSIS

<h3>Introduction</h3> Urticaria is a complex and debilitating disease that impacts patient's quality of life in about 30%. Infodemiology studies the distribution and determinants of health information and misinformation over the internet allowing an analysis of internet search trends which provides a representative overview of people's needs, giving physicians a proper idea on how to approach patients. <h3>Methods</h3> Cross-sectional study from 7 countries using the online tool Google trends were the urticaria Relative Search Volume was compared to Disability-adjusted life year and Internet Penetration Rate from 2004 to 2022. <h3>Results</h3> The search trends included symptoms, etiology, classification, diagnosis and treatment. Urticaria was the first related topic found in all countries, except for itchy, nettle rash and hives in Indonesia, Germany and USA respectively. It is interesting that in most countries, when searching for urticaria, users used the term "hives" to refer to it. In most countries curves indicate an increasing trend search (p <0.001) related to symptoms and treatment, being more evident in Indonesia and Japan between 2014-2022. Some countries as Indonesia, United States and Germany show similar smooth patterns of increase in searches, whereas in Brazil and Japan a more sudden increase was seen. <h3>Conclusion</h3> There is an increasing global public interest in urticaria therefore the need of web-based high quality scientific information related to urticaria is so much needed to fight misinformation as the internet is a common source of health information.

Food Delivery Drivers' Health Literacy Regarding COVID-19 Prevention and Protective Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Survey in Southern Thailand.

BackgroundIn 2019, COVID-19 spread worldwide, causing a pandemic that has posed unprecedented challenges and pressure for health systems and economies. Food delivery services have become an important medium for consumer food purchases to limit human-to-human contact. Thus, delivery drivers are at high risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection at work. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have analyzed the dimensions of health literacy (HL) regarding COVID-19 prevention in this population.ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the HL status toward COVID-19 prevention and its associated factors among food delivery drivers in southern Thailand.MethodsFollowing a cross-sectional survey from July to August 2021, Thai food delivery drivers in the upper-south and lower-south regions of southern Thailand were recruited to participate during the compulsory COVID-19 lockdown. An online structured questionnaire was administered verbally and recorded by the interviewer. Univariate and multivariate linear regressions were used to explore independently associated factors.ResultsOf 401 drivers, 291 (72.6%) were men. The median age was 31 years (range 19-64 years). The median number of months working as a driver was 12 months, and the median number of working hours was 9 hours per day. The median number of daily food orders was 20, while the median daily income was Thai baht (THB) 600 (US $15.90). Social media (Facebook and Line) was a common source of health information. The most common information required was about the COVID-19 vaccine, medications, and treatment. Most drivers (285/401, 71.1%) had excellent HL levels regarding COVID-19 prevention. Only the practical application of information was statistically correlated with behavior (r=0.38, P<.001). Drivers in the lower south of Thailand were more likely to have excellent HL than other drivers (β=7.03, P<.001). Those who frequently accessed information through YouTube (β=–2.17, P=.01) and relatives (β=–4.19, P<.001) were less likely to have excellent HL levels.ConclusionsUnderstanding HL among food delivery drivers would be useful for planning effective interventions that target this population. Conventional health education through social media alone may not be effective at educating people about COVID-19 prevention. Information literacy skills could determine individuals’ HL and drivers’ behaviors.

Breast cancer knowledge & information seeking among African American women below screening age

ObjectivesAfrican American women below screening age disproportionately face greater mortality from breast cancer relative to peers of other races and African American women of screening age. The current study examines breast cancer knowledge and health information seeking of African American women below screening age. MethodsWe collected survey data from 99 African American women below screening age on their breast cancer knowledge and health information seeking behaviors. As secondary analysis, we harmonized data from a previous study to compare breast cancer knowledge between African American women below and of (N = 209) screening age. ResultsThe average woman below screening age correctly answered 2.84 (SD=1.08) of six breast cancer knowledge items, 2.67 (SD=1.01) of five mammogram items, 1.44 (SD=0.86) of three treatment items, and had lower knowledge (p < .001) in each area relative to screening age women. Women below screening age sought information primarily from medical providers and the internet. ConclusionsA strategy for eliminating early-onset breast cancer disparities impacting African American women is addressing the limited breast cancer knowledge in this age group.Practice ImplicationsIn addition to age-appropriate information for this group, guidance for medical providers would be beneficial, as providers are this group’s most common source of health information.

Mobile Clinical Trial Matching Technology in Medical Oncology Clinic: A Pilot Feasibility Study.

PURPOSEThe internet is a common source of health information for patients and can be leveraged to provide patient-facing clinical trial information. This pilot study integrated an online prostate cancer clinical trial matching technology, called Trial Library (TL), in an academic medical oncology clinic from February 2019 to April 2021.PATIENTS AND METHODSThis is a single-arm interventional pilot study among patients with a known prostate cancer diagnosis. Participants were given access to TL before seeing a provider. The primary and secondary study end points were the overall satisfaction with TL and the proportion of participant-initiated clinical trial discussion with providers after exposure to TL, respectively. The null hypothesis or true satisfaction rate (acceptability) was tested against a one-sided alternative and was rejected if 29 or more satisfactions were observed.RESULTSAmong 272 patients approached, 66 provided informed consent to participate in the study. The mean age was 70.8 years (standard deviation = 7.9). The majority of participants were White (82%) and had metastases present at the time of enrollment (65%). The baseline clinical trial discussion rate ascertained via electronic medical record review was 28%. After accessing TL, a significantly larger proportion of participants (48.5%) discussed clinical trials during the clinic visit (P = .007), half of which were patient-initiated. The majority of participants indicated that TL increased their interest in clinical trials (68.2%); however, satisfaction/extreme satisfaction with the technology was 38%.CONCLUSIONAccess to TL resulted in a significant increase in patient-initiated discussions regarding clinical trials and an increase in interest in clinical trial participation although these data do not address if this resulted in increased accrual to clinical trials. The satisfaction rate did not meet the target to reject the null hypothesis, suggesting the need for iterative design of patient-facing health information.

Caregivers of children feel confident about using the Internet for health information.

Caregivers of children may rely on internet sources, health care providers, peers or family for health information. To examine the impact of sociodemographic factors on the use of the internet for health information by caregivers of children, and the impact on self-efficacy, effort and frustration. Using data from the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey, the effects of information source on self-efficacy, effort and frustration was examined using the complex samples module of SPSS. The internet was the most common source of health information for caregivers of children (n=247), with high confidence, low frustration and effort reported. Younger, higher educated and higher income caregivers were significantly more likely to use the internet for health information. Information from Health Care Providers (HCPs) was associated with greater confidence, and information from peers associated with lesser effort and frustration. No significant effects on self-efficacy, effort or frustration for online health information was noted compared to other sources. Efforts to reduce barriers to online health information may be required for some groups of caregivers, and health care providers may have a role to play in this.

YouTube as an information source on BRCA mutations: implications for patients and professionals.

Genetic testing for BRCA1/2 mutations in early breast cancer has been shown to be beneficial, and an increase in surveillance using these genetic markers is recommended. Given this recommendation, it is likely that individuals gather information about such testing. Social media is increasingly becoming a common source of health information. One such platform known for sharing health information is YouTube. The purpose of this study was to describe content related to BRCA1/2 mutations on YouTube. The sample included 100 English language videos, which were coded for content related to BRCA1/2 mutations. The 100 videos evaluated in this study were viewed 5.5 million times. In general, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations were mentioned simultaneously, with only 15% of videos explaining the difference in prevalence or implication of the variants individually. A great number of videos (85.0%) discussed having genetic testing to determine the presence of BRCA mutations, but only 16.0% discussed the potential harms of BRCA mutation testing and 42.0% mentioned seeking genetic counseling to determine the need for testing and interpretation of the test results. Comparing the characteristics and content of videos created by healthcare professionals (n = 71) to those created by consumers and the media (n = 29), we found that consumer/media videos were viewed twice as many times as professional videos (3,704,351 vs. 1,851,825, p = 0.04). Videos from medical professionals should include consistent information on the recommendations for individuals who test positive for a BRCA mutation. Such content should include education about BRCA mutations, testing, implications of those results and ways to reduce risk, and recommendations for increased surveillance and enhanced screening for individuals positive for BRCA mutations.

Online health information-seeking behaviour of patients attending a primary care clinic in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study.

The internet has become a common source of health information; however, little is known about online health information-seeking behaviour (HISB) among patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of online health information-seeking and its associated factors among patients in primary care in Malaysia. We also examined the reasons for, and the sources of, online health information-seeking, patients' level of trust in the information found and what the information was used for. A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted on patients who attended a primary care clinic. The questionnaire included the use of the internet to seek health information, sources and types of health information, eHealth literacy, patients' trust in online information, and how patients appraise and use online health information. Out of 381 patients in this study, 54.7% (n = 208) used the internet to search for health information. Patients mainly sought information via Google (96.2%) and the most common websites that they visited were Wikipedia (45.2%) and MyHEALTH (37.5%). Higher levels of education, longer duration of internet use, and higher eHealth literacy were significantly associated with online HISB. Patients' trust in websites (45.6%) and social media (20.7%) was low when compared to trust in healthcare professionals (87.9%). Only 12.9% (n = 22) of patients had discussed online health information with their doctors. Online HISB was common among primary care patients; however, their eHealth literacy was low, with suboptimal appraisal skills to evaluate the accuracy of online health information.

Quality Assessment of Online Resources for the Most Common Cancers.

The internet is a common source of health information for patients with cancer. Despite research surrounding the quality of online resources for individual types of cancer, these results may not necessarily be easily extrapolated to cancer resources as a whole. Thus, we aim to use a standardized tool to produce generalizable results by analyzing the quality of online resources for the most common cancers. Educational websites pertaining to breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers were searched using multiple search engines. After screening against pre-specified inclusion criteria, the most visible 100 websites for each cancer were extracted for analysis. A validated tool was then used to assess their quality. Pooled results were evaluated using descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the 400 analyzed websites, 43% were commercially affiliated, and these were significantly associated with greater use of biased language. Thirty percent of websites disclosed authorship, 47% cited at least one reliable source, and 43% were updated within the last 2years. The average Flesch-Kincaid readability was determined to be at a grade 10.9 level, which is significantly more difficult than the recommended grade 6 level. Risk factors, symptoms, and detection were the most accurately covered topics. However, most websites did not cover prognosis. This study comprehensively examines the quality of online cancer resources for the four most common cancers. Our results could help guide the development of future resources, support patient education endeavors, and raise awareness among healthcare providers about the limitations of online cancer resources.

‘Dr. Google, What Is That on My Skin?’—Internet Searches Related to Skin Problems: Google Trends Data from 2004 to 2019

The Internet is a common source of health information as search engines propose websites that should answer users’ queries. The study aimed to investigate the search behavior of Google users related to skin clinical signs as well as to analyze their geographical, secular, and seasonal patterns. The data of Google Trends was used to analyze the number of Google searches related to skin problems from January 2004 to December 2019. Thirty-four topics representing dermatologic complaints were identified. The interests of all topics were calculated in proportion to the Relative Search Volume (RSV) of ‘Scar’. Geographical patterns as well as secular and seasonal trends were analyzed. Countries with few users who searched for skin problems were excluded from the analysis. Globally, gaining the most attention were ‘Itch’ proportion to RSV of ‘Itch’ (2.21), ‘Hair loss’ (1.56), ‘Skin rash’ (1.38), ‘Perspiration’ (1.32), and ‘Scar’ (1.00). In 42 of the 65 analyzed countries, ‘Itch’ was the most popular topic, followed by ‘Hair loss’ (n = 7), and ‘Pustule’ (n = 6). The RSV of all topics increases over time, with ‘Comedo’ (5.15 RSV/year), ‘Itch’ (4.83 RSV/year), and ‘Dandruff’ (4.66 RSV/year) being the most dynamic ones. For 23 topics, the highest interest was noted during warm months. Considering skin manifestations, Google users are mainly interested in itch, hair loss, and skin rash. An increasing number of individuals worldwide seem to use Google as a source of health information for dermatological clinical signs during the study period.

The Correlation of Online Health Information-Seeking Experience With Health-Related Quality of Life: Cross-Sectional Study Among Non-English-Speaking Female Students in a Religious Community.

BackgroundGiven the increasing availability of the internet, it has become a common source of health information. However, the effect of this increased access on health needs to be further studied.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the correlation between online health information–seeking behavior and general health dimensions in a sample of high school students in Iran.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. A total of 295 female students participated in the study. The data were collected using two validated questionnaires: the e-Health Impact Questionnaire and the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp).ResultsThe participants moderately used online information in their health-related decisions, and they thought that the internet helped people in health-related decision making. They also thought that the internet could be used to share health experiences with others. Participants had moderate confidence in online health information and stated that the information provided by health websites was moderately understandable and reliable and moderately encouraged and motivated them to play an active role in their health promotion. Nevertheless, the results showed that online health information–seeking experience had no significant correlation with health-related quality of life.ConclusionsThis study provides insights into the effect of using internet information on the health of adolescents. It has important implications for researchers and policy makers to build appropriate policies to maximize the benefit of internet access for health.

Assessing Knowledge and Perceptions of Health Care Workers toward Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Objective: To assess the knowledge and perceptions of health care workers towards coronavirus (COVID-19)in most of the governorates of Iraq.Method: A cross-sectional survey, web-based study was conducted among HCWs about COVID- 19 duringthe last two weeks of April 2020. Knowledge and Perception were assessed by five components adaptedfrom the Ebola knowledge scale, and A 7-item instrument this part was developed using WHO coursematerials on Emerging respiratory for viruses COVID-19 and distributed randomly to HCWs using socialmedia. Descriptive statistics were used to express participants’ demographic information, mean knowledgescore and mean Perception score of HCWs. Chi squares tests were used to assess the association betweenstudy variables and Perception questions was used to identify the level of association among variables at thesignificance level of p&lt;0.05.Result: (184) participated of HCWs complete the survey (64.1%) are males, aged 20-29 years (54.3%),and most of them are Nurse (64.7%) and Lab-technicians (20.1%). Regarding COVID-19, most of themused social media to obtain the information (68%), About less than half of the respondents (41.30%)opined that COVID-19 was ? a severe illness transmitted to people from wild animals. Approximately87% of respondents identified “contact by airborne droplets through breathing, sneezing or coughing”as the most common mode of transportation; Most of the participants associated COVID-19 with fever(90.80%), shortness of breath (89.10%) and coughing (76.66%). Handwashing and social distraction werechosen by most respondents (95.70%) as a method of preventing infection while 9.80% reported consuminggin, garlic, ginger, herbal mixtures and foods/soups as precautions against COVID-19. The majority ofparticipants (81%) believed that COVID-19 is fatal; It was also noted that the social media (Whatsapp,Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc.) are the most common source of health information about COVID-19(65.20%). demonstrated a positive perception of prevention and control towards COVID-19. Most elementsof Perception were significantly associated with gender and age at (P &lt;0.05).Conclusions: The results of this study showed that healthcare workers have a good knowledge and positivePerception towards COVID-19. As the global threat of COVID-19 continues to emerge, it is critical toadditional education interventions and campaigns are required for healthcare workers.

Hand It to Dr Google: The Quality of Online Information on Ganglion Cysts.

Background: The internet is becoming a common source of health information for hand surgery patients. This study evaluates the quality of web-based resources on ganglion cysts of the hand. Methods: We completed a search for "ganglion cyst" on 3 search engines (Google, Dogpile, and Yippy). The quality of the top-100 patient education websites was assessed using a validated internet rating tool. Websites were evaluated based on affiliation, accountability, currency, interactivity, website organization, readability, coverage, and accuracy. Results: Of the 100 websites, the majority (74%) had commercial affiliations. Only 34% of websites identified an author, and even fewer identified the authors' credentials (27%) or affiliations (26%). A third of the websites cited references, and less than half provided an update date. The average readability based on Flesch-Kincaid grade level was 9.2, and only 3% could be read at or below 6th grade reading level. Prevention was the most poorly covered topic at 13% due to omission. In all, 66% of the websites were completely accurate in terms of global accuracy. Websites were most likely to present inaccurate information on treatment, often failing to mention conservative treatment (watch-and-wait approach) or promoting the use of natural health products. We also found 5% of websites presented closed rupture of the ganglion cyst as a legitimate home remedy. Conclusions: The overall quality of online information on ganglion cysts is highly variable and may occasionally be harmful for patients. It is increasingly important for physicians to prompt patients about their internet use.

A Preliminary Assessment of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Knowledge and Perceptions in Nigeria

This study assessed knowledge and perceptions about COVID-19 among the general public in Nigeria during the initial week of the pandemic lockdown in the country. From March 28 to April 4, 2020, this cross-sectional survey used an anonymous online questionnaire to collect data from respondents within Nigeria. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit 1357 respondents, aged 15-70 years, from 180 cities and towns within Nigeria. Study data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Approximately more than half (57.02%) of the respondents were male with high level of education (48.86% bachelor’s degree or higher). Approximately half of the respondents (46.94%) opined that COVID-19 was “a biological weapon designed by the Chinese government.” About 94% of the respondents identified “contact with airborne droplets via breathing, sneezing, or coughing” as the most common mode of transmission; most respondents associated COVID-19 with coughing (81.13%), shortness of breath (73.47%) and fever (62.79%). “Regular hand washing and social distancing” was selected by most respondents (94.25%) as a way of preventing infection whereas 11.86% reported “consuming gins, garlic, ginger, herbal mixtures and African foods/soups” as preventive measures against COVID-19. Majority of the respondents (91.73%) thought COVID-19 is deadly; and most respondents (84.3%) got 4 or more answers correctly. It was also observed that the traditional media (TV/Radio) are the most common source of health information about COVID-19 (93.5%). Findings revealed that Nigerians have relatively high knowledge, mostly derived from traditional media, about COVID-19. Their perceptions of COVID-19 bear implications across public health initiatives, compliance with precautionary behavior as well as bilateral relations with foreign nations. Evidence-based campaign should be intensified to remove misconceptions and promote precautionary measures.Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.Ethical Approval: Ethical approval was obtained from the Faculty of Social Sciences Ethical Board, University of Ibadan.

LANGUAGE USE, LITERACY SKILLS, AND ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION-SEEKING IN LATER LIFE AMONG HISPANICS IN THE U.S.

Online platforms, which are often in English, have become a common source of health information. Accordingly, language skills have been shown to be important for health information-seeking. In the United States, the use of online health information is generally low among Hispanics, particularly those with limited English proficiency. What is less clear, however, is how different measures of English proficiency may be linked to online health information seeking in later life. This study examines the associations between language spoken at home, literacy skills, and online health information seeking among middle age and older Hispanics in the U.S. Data of Hispanic adults aged 40 years and older (n = 315) come from the 2012/2014 Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). We used binary logistic regression models with complex sampling weights to examine online health information seeking as a function of primary language use at home (Spanish vs. English) and literacy skill assessment scores (low – high: 0 – 500 points). Results indicated that speaking Spanish at home (OR = 0.317, p < 0.05) is a negative predictor, and greater literacy skills (OR = 1.011, p < 0.05) is a positive predictor of online health information seeking. Findings from this study clarify possible health information disadvantages by limited English proficiency and lower literacy skills. We discuss how the impact of primary language use and literacy skills should be incorporated into future health communication and policy initiatives to address the barriers to health information among middle-aged and older Hispanic adults.

Sources of information used by patients prior to elective surgery: a scoping review

ObjectiveTo describe the range and nature of available research regarding sources of information that patients access to inform their decisions about elective surgery.DesignScoping review.Data sourcesPeer-reviewed studies published until February 2019...

Health Literacy and Medication Literacy in Saudi Arabia: Current Status

Background: Low health literacy and medication literacy can be associated with adverse medication-related events. The objectives of this research were to characterize medication use, describe health information sources, and characterize medication literacy in the KSA population.&#x0D; Methods: A cross-sectional nationwide survey was conducted among Saudi residents aged 18 years or above.&#x0D; Results: A total of 3,557 surveys were available for analysis (men = 1,811 and women = 1,746). Respondents were concentrated in younger categories, and each region was represented by 7% to 8% of respondents by design. Twenty-three percent of respondents (n = 825) reported having at least one chronic disease. A total of 1,882 (53%) of respondents reported ever looking for health information; of those, web pages were the most popular information sources. Among those taking medication for chronic disease, only 61% agreed that they knew how their medication should be monitored, 51% agreed that they knew what to do if they missed a dose, and 50% agreed that they knew their drug's side effects.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study's results suggest that interventions focused on medication literacy and tailored to prevalent chronic disease groups should be explored. Because the most common source of health information is web pages, interventions to improve overall health information literacy, especially pertaining to online medication information, should be studied.

Exploring Communication Strategies for Promoting Hepatitis B Prevention among Young Asian American Adults

In the United States, Asian Americans account for 50–60% of hepatitis B virus infections, leading to higher rates of liver cancer in this population. While some city-wide data have reported hepatitis B infection rates among young adults as high as 10–20%, little research has examined factors that impact hepatitis B beliefs, or the most effective strategies for reaching this particular population to promote hepatitis B awareness. An online survey was conducted with young Asian American adults (n = 418), aged 18–29 years old, to better understand their health information seeking, social media usage, and hepatitis B-related behaviors and beliefs. Results indicated that doctors and health organizations were the most trusted sources of health information, while the Internet was the most common source of health information. The majority of participants (99.8%) reported using social media and indicated they engaged in health-related behaviors on social media. Several factors, including non-receipt of hepatitis B vaccine, engaging in more health-related social media activities, and a higher mean score for difficulty with health information seeking, were significantly related to higher perceived susceptibility to hepatitis B. Future research should explore the effectiveness of using social media to reach young Asian American adults to promote hepatitis B awareness.

Qualitative Assessment of Key Messages about Nutrition and Weight Gain in Pregnancy in Printed Educational Materials in Alberta.

Printed educational materials are a common source of health information, although their effectiveness in improving women's knowledge or self-care in pregnancy has been questioned. This study describes the information in printed educational materials that address healthy eating during pregnancy and gestational weight gain (GWG) that are currently used in Alberta, Canada. Content of 6 resources was analyzed using a constant comparison qualitative approach. Resources emphasized healthy eating, prenatal supplements, folate supplementation, and healthy weight gain. More resources discussed the importance of "eating enough" than provided guidance on avoiding excessive GWG. Themes identified were: "everything is important" meaning that all healthy behaviours are important, making prioritization difficult; "more is more" emphasized eating more over moderation; "everyone is individual" suggests women seek individualized care through the care provider; and "contradictions" describes differences in content and recommendations within and between resources. New or revised versions of resources should provide congruent information with up-to-date recommendations that are easily prioritized. Care providers should be aware of contradictory information or information that does not align with current recommendations within printed educational materials and be ready to help women address the areas important for her personal behaviour change.