Health Information-seeking Practices Research Articles

Did the COVID-19 experience change U.S. parents’ attitudes towards HPV vaccination? Results from a national survey

BackgroundIn the U.S., uptake of the HPV vaccine remains below coverage goals. There is concern that negative reactions to emergency initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccination, may have increased some parents’ hesitancy towards all vaccines, including HPV. Understanding how different parent populations view routine vaccination post-pandemic is key to strategic efforts to maintaining and increasing uptake of HPV vaccine. MethodsIn early 2022, we recruited an online panel of English-speaking U.S. parents and caregivers, who used the social media platform Twitter and had HPV vaccine-eligible but unvaccinated children age 9–14 years. Respondents completed a 20-minute survey measuring knowledge, attitudes and intentions regarding HPV vaccination for their child, as well as background socio-demographics and health information-seeking practices. Questions regarding experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic included changes in access to preventive care, and perceptions of whether pandemic experiences had positively or negatively affected their attitudes about routine vaccination, with open text capturing reasons for this change. ResultsAmong 557 respondents, 81 % were definitely or likely to vaccinate their child against HPV, with 12 % being uncertain, and 7 % unlikely to vaccinate. Regarding routine vaccination, most (70 %) felt their attitudes had not changed, while 26 % felt more positively, and only 4 % felt more negatively. Reasons for positive attitude change included increased appreciation for vaccines overall, and motivation to proactively seek preventive care for their child. Negative attitude changes stemmed from distrust of COVID-19 public health efforts including vaccine development, and disillusionment with vaccines’ ability to prevent disease. In multivariable models, intention to vaccinate was greater among parents reporting greater education, Democratic affiliation, greater religiosity, and urban residence. Negative attitude change due to the pandemic independently predicted reduced HPV vaccination intention, while positive attitude change predicted positive intention. ConclusionsPost-pandemic, most U.S. parents remain committed to vaccinating their children against HPV. However, addressing residual COVID-19 concerns could improve uptake among vaccine-hesitant parents.

Exploring the health information-seeking practices of breast cancer patients in a middle-income country with a diverse ethnic population: a cross-sectional investigation.

Seeking health information is an important step for cancer patients to understand their condition and facilitate treatment. It also helps them deal with the unknown and aid in recovery. Therefore, it is vital to understand the factors that drive health information-seeking behavior. This study aims to achieve that objective in a localized context by surveying 421 breast cancer patients in an urban teaching hospital. The patients were presented with a 5-point questionnaire that explored their demography, health status, information-seeking behavior, and literacy level. The prevalence of health information-seeking initiatives reported was 60%. Patients with higher education (OR 3.31; 95% CI (1.39-7.87), p = 0.01), having their own business or were self-employed (OR 4.68; 95% CI (1.03-21.24), p = 0.046), and in a Medium 40 (M40) income level (OR 2.31; 95% CI (1.09-4.88), p = 0.03) and Top 20 (T20) level were more likely to seek health information. The mean e-Health Literacy Score (eHEALS) was 28.01 ± 5.0, with healthcare professionals having the highest level of trust (mean 4.22 ± 0.79) and most useful resource score (mean 4.21 ± 0.78). Even though Google was the most popular online search tool used by respondents, most of them seldom (23.77%) or had never (34.34%) discussed the online information they found with healthcare professionals. In conclusion, it is still best for patients to appraise the sought-after information with experts to avoid misinformation and treatment delay.

Predictors of Knowledge Regarding Puberty and Menstruation among Females of Reproductive Age Visiting Public Health Care Institute of Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Background: In this questionnaire based cross sectional survey, the researchers aimed to identify the sociodemographic predictors of knowledge regarding puberty and menstruation among females of reproductive age visiting a public healthcare institute. Methods: Using non-probability sampling, a self-designed, pretested and validated interviewer administered questionnaire in Urdu language was used to collect data from females of reproductive age (18-55 years) visiting the Gynecology outpatient department of tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan from November 2019 to March 2020. Results: Descriptive and inferential analysis using SPSS v. 21.0 revealed that 288 female participants with mean age 30.30±8.98 years participated in the study, out of which 48.6% of the participants had adequate knowledge regarding puberty and menstruation. The knowledge score was significantly higher among married females (67.7%), those living in urban areas (68.3%), having nuclear families (63.2%), and females with more than 12 years of education (69.9%), employed females (92.2%) and those with higher family income (83.3%). Binary logistic regression showed women living in urban setting were 4.01 times more likely to have good knowledge about puberty (OR 4.01, 95% CI 2.03-8.10, p<0.001) and menstruation and working women were 16.5 times more likely to have adequate knowledge (OR 16.5, 95% CI 1.5-181.7, p 0.022). Conclusion: The inadequate knowledge of females may be attributed to misconceptions regarding menstruation due to poor access to health-related education and a culture of silence around sexual and reproductive health issues. Systemic integration of adequate menstrual socialization at homes and in schools can change the discourse around sexual and reproductive health in the societal landscape. Future studies may explore health-information seeking practices of females from diverse socio-demographics to identify the sources and types of knowledge that they seek on female reproductive health issues.

Writing for Patients on the Participatory Web: Heuristics for Purpose-Driven Personas

Background: The participatory web complicates professional communicators' goals of providing accurate, usable, and trustworthy content, especially for health and medical topics. Professionals can better reach their audiences by understanding individuals' purposes for using e-health. Literature review: Previous literature has shown the need for audience analysis in e-health, and has called for personalized, nuanced, and contextualized methods for developing audience-centered content. Professional communicators in e-health can use personas as a strategy to help account for users' diverse, evolving, and extra-institutional purposes in accessing e-health, whether that content is professionally-generated or user-generated. Research questions: 1. What are patients' larger information-seeking contexts? 2. For what purposes do patients use e-health? 3. How can professional communicators leverage this deepened understanding of their audience's purposes to improve their content? Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with seven community members who self-identified as e-health users. They were asked about their larger health information-seeking practices, specific instances of using e-health, and website preferences. Results: Participants use e-health among other sources including medical professionals. They use an array of e-health sites, including professional and user-generated sites, and have diverse purposes in using that array of sites. Conclusion and implications: The results suggest that professional communicators deepen their audience analysis to account for informational context, emotional context, and the diverse and shifting purposes of their users. Heuristics for professionals are provided to develop purpose-driven personas.

Knowledge and use of prevention measuresfor chikungunya virus among visitors - Virgin Islands National Park, 2015.

In June 2014, the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus (CHIKV) emerged in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), a location where tourists comprise the majority of the population during peak season (January-April). Limited information is available concerning visitors' CHIKV awareness and prevention measures. We surveyed a convenience sample of Virgin Islands National Park visitors aged ≥18 years. Respondents completed a questionnaire assessing CHIKV knowledge, attitudes, and practices; health information-seeking practices; and demographics. Of 783 persons contacted, 443 (57%) completed the survey. Fewer than half (208/441 [47%]) were aware of CHIKV. During trip preparation, 28% of respondents (126/443) investigated USVI-specific health concerns. Compared with persons unaware of CHIKV, CHIKV-aware persons were more likely to apply insect repellent (134/207 [65%] versus 111/231 [48%]; p<0.001), wear long-sleeves and long pants (84/203 [41%] versus 57/227 [25%]; p<0.001), and wear insect repellent-treated clothing (36/204 [18%] versus 22/227 [10%]; p=0.02). The majority of visitors surveyed did not research destination-related health concerns and were unaware of CHIKV. However, CHIKV awareness was associated with using multiple prevention measures to reduce disease risk. These findings underscore the importance of providing tourists with disease education upon destination arrival.

“That Should Be Left to Doctors, That’s What They are There For!”—Exploring the Reflexivity and Trust of Young Adults When Seeking Health Information

This paper explores the health information-seeking practices of healthy young adults and how they assess and rank sources of information through a qualitative study. The findings show that participants (a) are strongly committed to searching for information about health and lifestyle, especially via the Internet; (b) healthcare professionals were perceived as the most reliable source of health information and advice; (c) online health information, although frequently accessed and experienced as empowering, is seen as a potentially unreliable source. Findings evidence how becoming better informed about health-related topics plays a pivotal role in individuals’ lives, most notably by using the Internet. Participants were able to reflect about what it means to know about health. The construction of trust regarding health information involved a heuristic process vis-à-vis source reliability and perceived credibility that places doctors as the most trustworthy medium of medical advice and health information. We conclude that participants’ trust toward professionals suggests the preference and need for more personalized care; and it is a response to the ambiguity and uncertainty that permeates the health information landscape, particularly that which is web-based.

Health Information–Seeking Practices of African American Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

The current study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach to investigate the health information–seeking practices of African American young men who have sex with men (AAYMSM). Forty-two self-identified AAYMSM, aged 18 to 21, residing in a Southeastern U.S. city participated in a qualitative focus group or face-to-face interview to examine their access to health information, current and preferred sources and types of health information, and recommendations for improving the delivery of health information to AAYMSM. Participants reported accessing health information from a complex network of sources, including peers, health care professionals, parents, and the Internet. Most consulted these sources to access information about the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS. In addition, participants provided recommendations to improve delivery of health information and identified parents and the Internet as preferred sources of health information. This research highlights the importance of developing health information, specifically for AAYMSM.

Health information seeking in the information society

This article is the second student contribution to the Dissertations into Practice feature. It reports on a study that investigated the everyday health information-seeking practices of a small group of the 'general public' and the implications for information-seeking theory and health information provision. The first student article, about the implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID) in a hospital library, was very different, and the two articles illustrate the broad spectrum of possible subjects for the Dissertations into Practice feature. This study was conducted in summer 2011 by Abir Mukherjee for his MSc dissertation in the Library and Information Sciences programme at City University London. Further information and copies of the full dissertation may be obtained from Abir Mukherjee or David Bawden. AM.

We need health information too: A systematic review of studies examining the health information seeking and communication practices of sexual minority youth

Objective: To systematically review literature focused on the health information seeking practices of sexual minority youth (SMY), those youth who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual. The aims of this systematic literature review were to determine the health information seeking practices of SMY by: (1) identifying their commonly cited sources of health information; (2) examining barriers associated with accessing health information; and (3) identifying study methodologies used in research with SMY. Method: A systematic review of the health information seeking practices of SMY was conducted. Empirical studies published between 1990 and 2010 on the health information seeking and health communication practices of SMY were found using medical/health and sociology databases. Results: A total of 398 citations were retrieved from four databases using specific search terms. Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria of: written in English; peer reviewed; original empirical study; and referenced search terms in title, abstract or keywords. Conclusion: Findings show inaccurate and limited health information targeted specifically toward SMY. Without culturally specific and accurate health information, it will be difficult for health educators and healthcare professionals to address the health concerns faced by this population.

Use of Media Technologies by Native American Teens and Young Adults in the Pacific Northwest: Exploring Their Utility for Designing Culturally Appropriate Technology-Based Health Interventions

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth are disproportionally burdened by many common adolescent health issues, including drug and alcohol use, injury and violence, sexually transmitted infections, and teen pregnancy. Media technologies, including the Internet, cell phones, and video games, offer new avenues for reaching adolescents on a wide range of sensitive health topics. While several studies have informed the development of technology-based interventions targeting mainstream youth, no such data have been reported for AI/AN youth. To fill this gap, this study quantified media technology use among 405 AI/AN youth (13-21years old) living in tribes and urban communities in the Pacific Northwest, and identified patterns in their health information-seeking practices and preferences. Overall, technology use was exceptionally common among survey respondents, mirroring or exceeding national rates. High rates of online health information seeking were also reported: Over 75% of AI/AN youth reported searching online for health information. These data are now being used by the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board and NW tribes to design culturally-appropriate, technology-based health interventions targeting AI/AN youth.

Determinants of the frequency of online health information seeking: Results of a Web-based survey conducted in France in 2007

In the general population, social disparities in Internet practices have been less described than disparities in health information access. Aim is to determine whether there are differences in the frequency of Internet use for health information among health seekers. We conducted an Internet-based survey from November 2006 to March 2007. We considered the 3720 residents of France who had searched for health information during the previous 12 months. This study reveals different uses of the Internet for health information seeking (HIS) between men and women and between the general population and people who work in the health sector. Health status, taking care of somebody who is sick, and active Internet use were associated with higher frequencies of online HIS to varying degrees. The effects of age and level of education were not clear or were not significant. Greater health concerns and some issues in the physician–patient relationship were associated with higher frequencies of Internet use for HIS in the general population. Considering that this increasing use of online tools for HIS is consistent with current public health policies that promote the development of the ‘informed patient’, one should remain cautious about these social disparities in online HIS practices.

The role of the Internet in patient-practitioner relationships: findings from a qualitative research study.

Background Studies suggest that there has been an increase in the use of the Internet by patients in many Western societies. However, despite the many texts available on health and the Internet, not much is known about how much patients actually use the Internet to look up health information in their daily lives. We know little about what meaning this activity has for their experience of health and illness, and for their relationship with health-care practitioners.Objective To explore patients' and practitioners' use of the Internet and to consider whether use of the Internet is changing relationships between patients and health-care practitioners.Method The study used qualitative interviews and observations of patient–practitioner interaction. Our purposive sample of 47 patients (32 women and 15 men) had all had contact with the health services for information/treatment in relation to hormone replacement therapy (HRT)/menopause and Viagra/erectile dysfunction. The setting for the research was in general practitioners' surgeries, specialist clinics and patients' homes in the United Kingdom. Participants reflected a wide range of socio-economic groups, but most were white and British born, which, given the ethnic make-up of the town in which we conducted the research, was not surprising. In addition to patients, we interviewed 10 health-care practitioners (4 consultant doctors, 3 GPs, 2 specialist nurses, and a psychologist) about their own health information seeking practices (HISPs) and those of their patients.Results Use of the Internet can increase patients' knowledge about their health conditions, although patients in our study were often too overwhelmed by the information available on the Internet to make an informed decision about their own care. Patients have a great deal of trust in their health-care practitioners. Health-care practitioners need to improve their own skills in Internet use. Hype around Internet use by patients appears to exceed the reality of Internet use.Conclusions Our qualitative study suggests that use of the Internet is contributing to subtle changes in the relationship between health-care practitioners and their patients, rather than effecting the dramatic transformation some people envisage for it.