Information-seeking Behavior Research Articles

Effect of information and communication technology (ICT) literacy skills on information seeking behaviour of LIS undergraduates in Southwestern Nigeria

Information seeking behavior is considered very important as it entails how people interact with information, in particular, the ways in which they seek and utilise information. Studies have however shown that some people including students do not seek information appropriately. Several factors, one of which include information and communication technology (ICT) literacy skills, have been suggested to be responsible for this. This study therefore examined the effect of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literacy skills on information seeking behaviour of Library and Information Science (LIS) undergraduates in Southwestern Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design of the correlational type was adopted for this study. The population consisted of 463 LIS undergraduates in three universities in Southwestern Nigeria. Stratified random sampling technique was used to arrive at the sample size of 277. Data was collected with the aid of questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as percentages, mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics such as Pearson Product Moment Correlation and multiple regression analysis were used in presenting the data. The findings of the study revealed that the level of ICT literacy skills of the LIS undergraduates in Southwestern Nigeria is high ( ̅ ). The most prominent information sources used by the respondents were online databases ( ̅ . Majority of the LIS undergraduates sought information to be outstanding academically ( ̅ . Most of the respondentsaccessed the needed information on the Internet through their smart phones ( ̅ . The major factor affecting information seeking by majority of the respondents was slow internet connectivity ( ̅ . The study also revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between ICT literacy skills and information seeking behaviour (r = .432**; df = 248; p< 0.05). The study concluded that ICT literacy skills is critical to information seeking behaviour in this digital era, and therefore recommended that the level of ICT literacy skills of the students should be strengthened through continuous organisation of workshops to build their capacity in ICT literacy.

The Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence Conversational Search on Individual Users’ Information-Seeking Behavior

The Impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence Conversational Search on Individual Users’ Information-Seeking Behavior

Adolescent girls' sexual and reproductive health information needs and barriers in Cape Town.

The sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information needs of adolescent girls in developing countries are not being met. The study explored the sexual and reproductive health information needs, information-seeking behaviour and barriers among adolescent girls in the Western Cape, South Africa. The study was conducted in the South eastern sub district of Cape Town metropole. The study was conducted at one of the high schools in a highly populated area in the Cape Town metropole. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 adolescent girls aged 16-17 years, who were recruited using purposive sampling techniques. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis framework. Three themes emerged from the data: (1) adolescent girls exhibit limited awareness and comprehension of sexual and reproductive health; (2) the information-seeking behaviours of adolescent girls regarding sexual and reproductive health and (3) barriers to seeking information. The establishment of primary healthcare facilities that are friendly to adolescents, combined with impactful reproductive health education and improved parent-adolescent girl relations, is crucial for promoting sexual and reproductive health among adolescent girls. The study offered valuable insights into the SRH information needs, information-seeking behaviour and barriers faced by adolescent girls in accessing SRH information sources and services. These barriers include lack of knowledge about SRH and contraception, challenges within family dynamics, difficulties accessing friendly healthcare services and encountering negative attitudes from healthcare professionals.

Information-seeking Behavior of Iranian Young Adults (18-28 Years Old) Regarding HPV on Social Media: A Preventive Approach to HPV.

Health information-seeking behavior refers to individuals' targeted actions to satisfy their health information needs and search for relevant disease-related information. Nowadays, social media platforms provide a great opportunity for meeting health information needs and delivering preventive education regarding human papillomavirus (HPV). The purpose of this study is the information-seeking behavior of Iranian young adults (18-28 years old) regarding HPV on social media, a preventive approach to HPV. The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2023 among Iranian boys and girls aged 18-28 years. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select 3840 participants. The data collection tool was Longo's Health Information-Seeking Behavior Questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software. The results showed that Iranian youth aged 18-28 were more inclined to seek information on social media about the transmission routes and preventive measures for HPV. The primary informational need regarding transmission was "I want to know the main route of HPV transmission is through vaginal and anal intercourse?", and regarding prevention, it was "Can condoms prevent HPV infection?" Additionally, the findings indicated that young individuals sought information about HPV after their first sexual encounter. Most of the information needs of the youth were fulfilled through YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp, mainly in video format. Approximately 85.10% of the youth were satisfied with the information obtained from social media. The results revealed a significant and positive relationship between the health information needs of young adults (18-28 years old) in the area of HPV and personal factors. Gender, age, marital status, education level, history of HPV infection, and engaging is unprotected extramarital sex were identified as significant influential factors on the level of information needs of young individuals, especially regarding HPV preventive measures (P < 0.05). Health authorities and disease control and prevention centers need to harness the potential of social media in meeting the informational needs of youth and providing education and awareness, especially concerning the transmission and prevention of HPV.

Perceptions and Information-Seeking Behavior Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination Among Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease in 2023: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

People living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face an increased risk of severe outcomes such as hospitalization or death from COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination is a vital approach to mitigate the risk and severity of infection in patients with CKD. Limited information exists regarding the factors that shape COVID-19 vaccine uptake, including health information-seeking behavior and perceptions, within the CKD population. The objectives were to describe among CKD patients, (1) health information-seeking behavior on COVID-19, (2) their capacity to comprehend and trust COVID-19 information from different sources, and (3) their perceptions concerning COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Cross-sectional web-based survey administered in British Columbia and Ontario from February 17, 2023, to April 17, 2023. Chronic kidney disease G3b-5D patients and kidney transplant recipients (CKD G1T-5T) enrolled in a longitudinal COVID-19 vaccine serology study. The survey consisted of a questionnaire that included demographic and clinical data, perceived susceptibility of contracting COVID-19, the ability to collect, understand, and trust information on COVID-19, as well as perceptions regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data with values expressed as count (%) and chi square tests were performed with a significance level set at P ≤ .05. A content analysis was performed on one open-ended response regarding respondents' questions surrounding COVID-19 infection and vaccination. Among the 902 patients who received the survey via email, 201 completed the survey, resulting in a response rate of 22%. The median age was 64 years old (IQR 53-74), 48% were male, 51% were university educated, 32% were on kidney replacement therapies, and 57% had received ≥5 COVID-19 vaccine doses. 65% of respondents reported that they had sought out COVID-19-related information in the last 12 months, with 91% and 84% expressing having understood and trusted the information they received, respectively. Those with a higher number of COVID-19 vaccine doses were associated with having sought out (P =.017), comprehended (P < .001), and trusted (P =. 005) COVID-19-related information. Female sex was associated with expressing more concern about contracting COVID-19 (P = .011). Most respondents strongly agreed to statements regarding the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination. Respondents' questions about COVID-19 infection and vaccination centered on 4 major themes: COVID-19 vaccination strategy, vaccine effectiveness, vaccine safety, and the impact of COVID-19 infection and vaccination on kidney health. This survey was administered within the Canadian health care context to patients with CKD who had at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine dose. Race/ethnicity of participants was not captured. In this survey of individuals with CKD, COVID-19 information-seeking behavior was high and almost all respondents understood and trusted the information they received. Perceptions toward the COVID-19 vaccine and booster were mostly favorable.

Is Indian History Being Falsified? Public Interest Trends of Historical Figures, 2004-2023

Since the ascent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power in 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, concerns have been raised regarding the appropriation or undermining of the legacies of India’s prominent leaders and the promotion of specific figures to reshape historical narratives by promoting right-wing Hindutva ideology. The study investigates these claims by examining changes in public perception of three significant historical personalities, Mohandas Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Vallabhbhai Patel. Information seeking behavior is used as the theoretical basis to explain any change in public interest, measured using Google search volumes from 2004 to 2023. The data is split into two 10-year subsets centered around 2014 corresponding to BJP’s rise to power. Welch’s t-test is applied to the data to measure if there is any change in search volumes after 2014.Results show an increased interest in Sardar Patel during the period 2014 to 2023 and possible reasons are analyzed. However, no statistically significant changes were observed for Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. There is no evidence to suggest that the legacies of these personalities are being suppressed or appropriated to align with a Hindutva narrative, or that such actions, if any, have had any statistically significant impact on public interest.

The Needs of Information and Information Seeking Behaviour:Faculty of Science, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan

The Needs of Information and Information Seeking Behaviour:Faculty of Science, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan

The Health Information Seeking Behavior of Punjabi Elders During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada.

Health Information Seeking Behavior (HISB) refers to the behavior and strategies used to attain, clarify, or confirm health information. The uptake of health information depends on system-level and individual-level factors. The purpose of the present study is to understand the sources from which Punjabi elders obtain COVID-19 vaccine-related information and their information seeking behavior. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 391 Punjabi elders aged 50+ years in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ontario. The survey questions included the need for COVID-19 vaccine information, the type of information sought, sources of information, and barriers to seeking information. Descriptive analysis was conducted using frequencies and percentages, and logistic regression was performed to understand the associations between participants' sociodemographic characteristics and HISB. The results suggested that Punjabi elders are more likely to use informal sources and less likely to seek information from health professionals and government health and wellness websites. The results also suggested that most participants do not cross-check their information with other sources and are more likely to cross-check the information with family/friends, compared to credible care providers, across all demographics. Ultimately, there may be a need for stakeholders to collaborate to regulate the accuracy and type of health-information that is disseminated through media, and to tailor health communication to the health information seeking behavior of this population.

Impact of global public health days on online health-information-seeking behavior related to substance use: An analysis of five-year data.

The United Nations Organizations observe various global public health days (GPHDs) (also known as world days) throughout the year. We aimed to assess the impact of GPSDs on online health information-seeking behavior related to substance use in the Indian context. We used the Google Trends data for this study using standard guidelines. We conducted a topic search for the query "Substance abuse" to capture online information-seeking behavior (OHISB) for substance use disorder-related searches. The data were analyzed using the Joinpoint Regression software. Joinpoint regression model analysis was conducted to determine the statistically significant daily percent change (DPC) in the RSV trend. We found that there were significant changes in OHISB for substance use-related disorders on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking over the last five years. The increase in the pattern of online search for substance use-related information was not observed around the World No Tobacco Day, World Mental Health Day, and World Suicide Prevention Day. Since most of these world health days are likely to continue to be observed in the coming years, it is important to regularly assess their impact as well as make the necessary modifications to make them more effective in achieving the desired objectives.

Assessing Farmers’ Awareness of Climate Change Impact: A Case of the Bundelkhand Region, India

The study was conducted in 2023-24 in the Bundelkhand region, India and examined the awareness of climate variability and its impacts on farmers. Analytical and descriptive research design was used in the present study. The present study was carried out in two districts namely, Jalaun and Datia of Bundelkhand. Four blocks were selected randomly from these districts, and a total of 320 respondents were selected randomly. The results revealed that most of the respondents were well informed about changes in crop cycles (81.87%), new pests and diseases (63.12%) and natural hazards like earthquakes and cyclones (69.06%). There are still considerable gaps in their knowledge of topics like biodiversity loss and groundwater depletion. Factor analysis revealed four principal components influencing awareness; natural hazards (.717), soil productivity (.681), pest and disease emergence (.775) excess water in surface (.818), and decline in groundwater level (.738). Correlation and regression analysis indicate that education, landholding, socio economic status, information-seeking behaviour, economic motivation and scientific orientations are significantly and positively associated with climate change awareness. The findings suggest that focused awareness efforts need to be made that utilize media and extension advisory services to improve farmers’ awareness and ability to adapt.

Associations of online health information seeking with health behaviors of cancer survivors.

To examine the effects of online health information seeking (OHIS) behavior on five health behaviors (regular physical activity, less sedentary, calorie checking, no alcohol consumption, and no smoking) among adult cancer survivors in the United States. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with adult cancer survivors (≥18 years old) from Cycles 2, 3, and 4 of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). The respondents self-reported OHIS, and the data on the five health behaviors were pooled to perform descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses using Stata 17.0. Of the 1245 adult cancer survivors, approximately 74% reported OHIS behavior for themselves within the previous year of the survey. We found that OHIS was significantly and positively associated with the level of physical activity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.53, p = .002) and calorie checking (OR = 1.64, p = .001), but not with sedentary behavior, smoking, and alcohol consumption after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, body mass index (BMI), marital status, depression, and general health. Findings from this study suggest that most cancer survivors used various forms of digital tools and platforms to seek health information. The study also demonstrated an independent impact of OHIS behavior on physical activity and calorie checking. Healthcare professionals may need to encourage and guide cancer survivors to seek credible eHealth information and further utilize digital health tools as a platform for care delivery, promoting health behaviors and preventing adverse health outcomes among cancer survivors.

Adolescents' online health information seeking: Trust, e-health literacy, parental influence, and AI-generated credibility

Adolescents increasingly turn to online sources for health information, raising concerns about the credibility of information and its impact on their behaviors. This study explores the factors shaping adolescents' online health information seeking (OHIS) behaviors. The study surveyed 381 adolescents to assess trust in online health information, eHealth literacy, parental behaviors, and AI-generated credibility scores. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyze data and test hypotheses based on the Social Cognitive Theory. Trust in online health information positively influenced disease-related OHIS behaviors (β = 0.24, p &lt; 0.05) and fitness-related OHIS behaviors (β = 0.18, p &lt; 0.05). Higher eHealth literacy correlated with increased disease-related OHIS behaviors (β = 0.32, p &lt; 0.05) and fitness-related OHIS behaviors (β = 0.28, p &lt; 0.05). Parental OHIS behaviors influenced adolescents' disease-related OHIS behaviors (β = 0.16, p &lt; 0.05) and fitness-related OHIS behaviors (β = 0.22, p &lt; 0.05). Parental OHIS mediation positively mediated these relationships (H7, H8). Higher AI-generated credibility scores associated with more disease-related OHIS behaviors (β = 0.20, p &lt; 0.05) and fitness-related OHIS behaviors (β = 0.15, p &lt; 0.05). Adolescents' eHealth literacy mediated these relationships (H11, H12). Trust, eHealth literacy, parental influence, and AI-generated credibility play vital roles in shaping adolescents' OHIS behaviors. Educators should prioritize enhancing eHealth literacy and promoting credible online sources to improve adolescents' health information seeking practices. This study contributes insights into the factors influencing adolescents' OHIS behaviors, emphasizing the role of parental mediation and AI-generated credibility scores. The findings inform the development of targeted health education interventions to encourage responsible online health information seeking among adolescents.

Associations and gender differences between OHI-seeking behaviors and eHealth literacy among Chinese university students.

to explore associations and gender differences between OHI-seeking (online health information seeking) behaviors and eHealth (electronic health) literacy among Chinese university students. Online questionnaires of eHealth literacy scale and OHI-seeking behaviors created in software Wenjunxing were used in this survey. Chi-squared tests, t-test, and Pearson correlation analysis were performed using SPSS for data analysis. Among 5,383 participants, 72.4% were girls, 77.5% lived in rural areas, 51.2% majored in liberal arts, 76.6% with low education parents. The average C-eHEALS scores of boys and girls were 26.53 ± 5.861 and 26.84 ± 5.816, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.084). The top three OHI-seeking behaviors for boys and girls, as well as for the C-eHEALS low and high groups, were "finding information about physical exercises" "reading or sharing health information via social media" "finding information about nutrition and diet", all of which had significant gender and eHealth literacy differences. Gender and eHealth literacy differences should be focused for intervention when developing and implementing eHealth intervention training for parents and adolescents in schools and communities.

Pursuing stability in crisis: The impact of COVID-19-related work changes on information search and job-seeking behaviors

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly altered the way employees work and has had a significant impact on their subsequent behaviors. In this study we applied affective events theory and developed an adjustable mediation model to examine how COVID-19-related work changes influence employees’ behaviors. We conducted an online survey and collected data from 571 people employed in various businesses across several provinces in China. The results indicated that COVID-19-related work changes positively predicted work-related information seeking and job-seeking behaviors, with job insecurity serving as a mediator. Furthermore, job embeddedness amplified the positive relationship between job insecurity and the search for work-related information. The theoretical and practical consequences of these results are discussed.

Trends of information seeking behaviour of small scale traditional coastal fishermen of Dadanpatrabar ‘KHOTI’ in Purba Midnapore district, West Bengal, India

Trends of information seeking behaviour of small scale traditional coastal fishermen of Dadanpatrabar ‘KHOTI’ in Purba Midnapore district, West Bengal, India

Information seeking behaviour of the faculty members of Nursing Institutions in Mizoram: A study

Information seeking behaviour of the faculty members of Nursing Institutions in Mizoram: A study

Information Seeking Behaviour of PG students of Department of Journalism and Mass Communication: A case study of Karnataka University, Dharwad

Information Seeking Behaviour of PG students of Department of Journalism and Mass Communication: A case study of Karnataka University, Dharwad

Examining Audiences’ Information-Seeking Behavior Surrounding the Super Bowl and Sex Trafficking: Insights From Google Trends Data

Sex trafficking is a prominent human rights issue that has been increasingly associated with the hosting of large-scale sport events. Despite insufficient evidence demonstrating a causal or correlative link, event stakeholders have implemented antitrafficking efforts in attempts to prevent and promote awareness of sex trafficking. Using Google Trends data to measure audiences’ information-seeking behavior online and Twitter data as a proxy for antitrafficking efforts on social media, we employed a difference-in-differences approach to estimate the change in online demand for sex-trafficking information among the residents of Miami-Dade, the host city of Super Bowl LIV (54). Findings highlight an increase in the online demand for sex-trafficking information in the host city during and after the event. This increased demand attributed to the Super Bowl may offer support for host communities utilizing sport events to promote awareness of pressing social issues.

Health information-seeking behaviour, intimate partner violence, and sexual risk-taking among MSM in Bali, Indonesia

Health information-seeking behaviour, intimate partner violence, and sexual risk-taking among MSM in Bali, Indonesia

Uses of Internet for Obtaining and Sharing MIH-Related Information.

The Internet's increasing prevalence, along with the user-friendly nature of smartphones and the ease of access to virtual spaces, creates a vast and practical domain for digital communication. In this context, obtaining online information plays a crucial role in promoting health and preventing disease, facilitating individual and collaborative decision-making between patients and dental professionals. Digital information resources play a crucial role in providing guidance, support, and knowledge to the public and health care experts on molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH). This chapter explores various dimensions related to MIH digital information, including a diverse array of digital platforms and the multifaceted landscape of health information-seeking behaviors. This chapter emphasizes the importance of accurate and reliable information dissemination in the digital era. It also sheds light on how understanding the dynamics of digital communication and health information-seeking behavior can improve accessibility and information quality for individuals facing the challenges of MIH.