Information Seeking Behaviour Of People Research Articles

Enhancing earthquake preparedness knowledge and practice among Nepalese immigrants residing in Japan

This study aims at increasing earthquake preparedness knowledge perception and practice among Nepalese immigrants residing in Japan through an educational intervention. A single arm quasi experimental study was conducted among Nepalese immigrants residing in Japan. An educational intervention was prepared along with a 52 itemed questionnaire. In total, 165 participants responded to our questionnaire. Majority of them were male (67.88%), and the mean age was 32.78 years. Generalized equation model showed that the knowledge score of earthquake preparedness was 4.01 points higher immediately after the intervention [95% CI (2.78–5.24), p-value < 0.001] compared to baseline with a further increase by 7.02 points [95% CI (5.96–8.09), p-value < 0.001] at two weeks follow up. However, the practice score increased only by 2.83 points [95% CI (2.51–3.14), p-value < 0.001] immediately after the intervention with a similar increase at two weeks and 12 weeks follow up period [OR: 2.62, 95% CI (2.29–2.96), p-value < 0.001]. The educational intervention, when conducted in native language, can increase both the knowledge and practice score of earthquake preparedness hence, information related to earthquake preparedness in Nepali languages in the government websites of Japan could potentially increase information seeking behavior of people.

"My words were completely gone." A qualitative study of the information seeking behaviour of people with aphasia

Introduction. Aphasia is an acquired language impairment, which affects the production and comprehension of speech, reading and writing. Aphasia is associated with great cognitive variation, but a common marker is impaired word retrieval. Searching for information requires several language related skills, such as naming, spelling and reading skills. Consequently, aphasia may have an impact on information seeking behaviour. Method. Seven participants with aphasia were interviewed about their information seeking. Analysis. The data were analysed and organized into categories, derived from themes in the interview guide and the dataset. Results. Information needs were typically solved by asking someone, or through word mobilising search strategies. The participants reported extensive searching for images and synonyms, with the overall purpose to identify adequate query terms. Browsing was preferred over direct searching. Furthermore, certain information needs did not result in any information seeking, because searching activities were considered too strenuous. Conclusions. The findings from this study suggest that an information architecture that facilitates browsing and image search can make Web content more accessible for people with aphasia. Moreover, there is a need for future research on search user interface design that better accommodate people with aphasia in general and impaired word retrieval skills in particular.

Information needs and information seeking behaviour of people with dementia and their non-professional caregivers: a scoping review

BackgroundPeople with dementia often require full-time caregivers especially in the later stages of their condition. People with dementia and caregivers’ access to reliable information on dementia is essential as it may have an important impact on patient care and quality of life. This study aims to provide an overview of the information needs and information seeking behaviour of people with dementia and their non-professional caregivers.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review of the literature and searched four electronic databases for eligible studies published up to August 2018. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. Information needs were classified according to emerging themes in the literature, and information seeking behaviour was categorized using Wilson’s model of information behaviour.ResultsTwenty studies with a total of 4140 participants, were included in this review. Reported information needs focused on: (i) disease; (ii) patient care provision; (iii) healthcare services; and (iv) caregiver self-care. The most commonly reported information need was on healthcare service-related information. Characteristics found to influence information needs were the severity of dementia as well as patient and caregiver status. People with dementia and non-professional caregivers mainly displayed active searching, information seeking behaviour and preferred using electronic sources to obtain health information.ConclusionCurrent dementia information sources available in English are extensive in the information they offer, but more emphasis needs to be placed on healthcare service-related information. All studies originated from high income countries and focused on information needs of non-professional caregivers only. The only variables found to be associated to information needs were severity of dementia condition as well as patient/caregiver status. The information needs identified in this review can be used to inform development and design of future dementia resources for people with dementia and their non-professional caregivers.

Protocol for a scoping review on information needs and information-seeking behaviour of people with dementia and their non-professional caregivers

BackgroundDementia is a debilitating disease that can lead to major changes in a patient’s behaviour and function. It is important to educate both patients with dementia and their non-professional caregivers...

Establishing information seeking pathways in slow and flash floods

The purpose of this paper is to investigate information seeking behaviour of people involved in slow and flash flood disasters, specifically how they received the first alert, where they then turned for more information, and what their main sources and forms were. An online and mailed survey based on models of problem-specific information seeking and risk information for natural hazards secured responses from Australians who had experienced flash flood (n = 91) and slow flood (n = 41). It found that information pathways taken by individuals are different for slow and flash floods, but the set of information forms and sources used are similar. ‘Other people’, television and news and weather websites were predominant sources and forms in flash flood, and online sources, television and radio predominant in slow flood. The importance of other people and mainstream media (including their online sites) in information behaviour means that mainstream media should remain an important component of information efforts by agencies. This study builds further evidence that disaster type and the media landscape should be taken into account when developing warning and response communication strategies, and allows public information officers to prioritise communication forms during response.

Diabetes-related information-seeking behaviour: a systematic review

BackgroundInformation-seeking behaviour is necessary to improve knowledge on diabetes therapy and complications. Combined with other self-management skills and autonomous handling of the disease, it is essential for achieving treatment targets. However, a systematic review addressing this topic is lacking. The aims of this systematic review were to identify and analyse existing knowledge of information-seeking behaviour: (1) types information-seeking behaviour, (2) information sources, (3) the content of searched information, and (4) associated variables that may affect information-seeking behaviour.MethodsThe systematic review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) requirements. MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CCMed, ERIC, Journals@OVID, Deutsches Ärzteblatt and Karlsruher virtueller Katalog (KvK) databases were searched. Publications dealing with information-seeking behaviour of people with diabetes mellitus published up to June 2015 were included. A forward citation tracking was performed in September 2016 and June 2017. Additionally, an update of the two main databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL) was conducted, considering studies published up to July 2017. Studies published in languages other than English or German were excluded, as well as letters, short reports, editorials, comments and discussion papers. A study selection and the critical appraisal of the selected studies were performed independently by two reviewers. A third reviewer was consulted if any disagreement was found. Data extraction and content analysis were performed using selected dimensions of Wilson’s ‘model of information behaviour’.ResultsTwenty-six studies were included. Five ‘types of information-seeking behaviour’ were identified, e.g. passive and active search. The ‘Internet’ and ‘healthcare professionals’ were the most frequently reported sources. ‘Diet’, ‘complications’, ‘exercise’ and ‘medications and pharmacological interactions’ were the most frequently identified content of information. Seven main categories including associated variables were identified, e.g. ‘socioeconomic’, ‘duration of DM’, and ‘lifestyle’.ConclusionThe systematic review provides a valuable overview of available knowledge on the information-seeking behaviour of people with diabetes mellitus, although there are only a few studies. There was a high heterogeneity regarding the research question, design, methods and participants. Although the Internet is often used to seek information, health professionals still play an important role in supporting their patients’ information-seeking behaviour. Specific needs of people with diabetes must be taken into consideration.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42016037312

The Effect of Patient-Physician Relationship on Health Information Seeking Behavior of Diabetic Patients

The Effect of Patient-Physician Relationship on Health Information Seeking Behavior of Diabetic Patients

Sources of information about multiple sclerosis: Information seeking and personal, demographic, and MS variables

Abstract . Being well-informed about multiple sclerosis (MS) and its treatment is associated with a number of positive clinical andpsychosocialoutcomes,includinghigherlevelsofqualityoflifeandpersonalcontrol,bettercopingandadjustmentafterdiagnosis,andreduceddependenceonhealthproviders.UnderstandingthesourcesfromwhichpeoplewithMSseekinformationisimportantin assuring that timely, accurate, and useful information is available in a medium and format that is accessible. The purpose ofthis study was to explore the information seeking behavior of people with MS and to analyze the extent to which informationsource was associated with personal, demographic, and illness variables. A sample of 409 adults with MS recruited throughthe National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) completed questionnaires about their primary source of MS information anddemographic and illness characteristics. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and bivariate correlation analyses were appliedto the data to identify the most frequently utilized sources of MS information and examine relationships between informationsource and to personal, demographic, and illness variables. The most frequently identified sources of information about MS andits treatment was physicians or neurologists, followed by the Internet. Age was an important variable in distinguishing the primaryinformation source between groups. Generally, younger patients are more likely to obtain MS information primarily through theInternet while older patients obtain information primarily through their neurologist. This study provides information useful ineffectively targeting MS information and understanding how persons with MS access information, Further research is needed tounderstand differences in the quality, quantity, and sources of MS information available, the extent to which differences in sourcesof MS information may affect patients’ decisions about their treatment, and how individual variables may affect patients’ abilityto access, understand, and remember educational material.Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, information seeking, health promotion