Information-seeking Patterns Research Articles

Source of medical information and behavioral seeking patterns in patients affected with Friedreich's ataxia and their caregivers: a survey study.

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an untreatable disease that negatively impacts patients' and caregivers' quality of life. The aims were to improve the quality of the information for FRDA patients and caregivers and suggest a possible tool to spread this information. Thirty-four FRDA patients and 45 caregivers were interviewed separately using a structured self-administered survey about their information-seeking behavior, their level of expectation and satisfaction for the information received, and the need for further information. For patients and caregivers, the main source of information was the FRDA specialist and the media. The most searched items were "general information"; patients and particularly caregivers desired to get more information on existing and experimental therapies. Adequate information supply is part of good medical care; therefore, a deeper insight of clinicians in information-seeking behavior of FRDA patients and caregivers would provide tailored information and improve therapeutic alliance.

Sociodemographic and Psychological Predictors of Seeking Health Information Online among GB2M in Ontario: Findings from the #iCruise Project

Objectives The current study examines the experiences of gay, bisexual, two-spirit and other men who have sex with men (GB2M) who use networking applications and their engagements with online sexual health outreach workers disseminating healthcare information through these digital spaces. Methods The iCruise study was a longitudinal mixed-methods study across Ontario, Canada which collected data on online sexual health information seeking behaviors. Results Results offer insight into differences in information seeking behaviors among diverse groups of queer men. Conclusions Implications for the dissemination of health information based on the results of information seeking patterns is discussed as well.

Avoiding Information during Serious Illness: Insights into the Information Behavior of Cancer Patients

AbstractCancer patients seek information about their health and illness using many different approaches. Some prefer to seek intensively whereas other avoid seeking information. Over the course of the cancer continuum an individual may meet their needs using several different approaches. In this paper, we explore how avoidance can be an approach used as part of information seeking activities and not just as an alternative approach. Interviews with six current and former cancer patients were conducted and audio recorded for transcription. The transcriptions were coded to identify themes and concepts. We identify the different patterns of information seeking among the interviewees ranging from seeking intensively to avoiding information. Furthermore, we find that exposing yourself selectively to information as well as avoiding some information can be strategies to protect the information seeker from information the individual is not able to cope with. This study indicates that information seeking approaches are overlapping.

‘Sharing is Caring’: Copyright Metaphors and Online Sharing Norms

Copyright is under contest in Australia amid growing digital cultures of sharing. Using metaphor as a frame for analysis, this study applies internet search data (Google Trends) methods to visualise Australian online information-seeking patterns for metaphors related to copyright and sharing. An overview of legal metaphors of online copyright (‘piracy’, ‘war on copyright’) and metaphors of digital sharing (‘sharing is caring’, ‘sharing economy’) leads to a critical examination of the ‘metaphor struggles’ between the rhetoric of copyright infringement and sharing cultures promoted by social media. Key findings presented are of decreased information seeking for copyright metaphors and increased information seeking for sharing metaphors. Online information-seeking patterns, as visualised by internet search data, represent a form of public mobilisation. Visualisation of these patterns of public information seeking for metaphors of copyright and sharing demonstrates shifting conceptions of copyright in contemporary digital cultures. This article concludes by raising a potential relationship between rising ethics of online sharing norms and diminishing legitimacy of online copyright, as the legal metaphor of copyright appears to transition through the metaphor cycle.

The Deaf or Hard of Hearing Population’s Attitude and Information Seeking Behaviour Towards COVID-19 in South Africa

ABSTRACT This study presents an exposé of the information seeking behaviours and patterns and attitudes regarding COVID-19 among a sample of 206 people from the deaf/hard of hearing population (males, n = 119; females, n = 87) in three South African provinces. The researchers designed a Google Form, which was used for the data collection, which took place over seven weeks. The data generated were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The average age of the respondents was ±52.5 years, and the findings revealed that the respondents were most curious about preventive measures against COVID-19, possible vaccines and travel advisories. They explored information provided on the Internet, social networking sites and television for COVID-19 related information. The sources of the COVID-19 related information and the type of the COVID-19 related information sought determined the attitudes of the South African deaf/hard of hearing towards this virus. Recommendations were made based on the findings.

Online and offline health information seeking and the demand for physician services.

We examine the relationship between Internet-based health information seeking and the demand for physician services, using data collected from the 28 European Union states in 2014. Unlike previous research, our analysis distinguishes seekers of health information into those who use only non-Internet sources and those who use the Internet and possibly non-Internet sources. By comparing the frequencies of physician visits among the two groups of health information seekers and non-seekers, we infer the net association between online health information and the demand for physician services while partially controlling for the effects of concurrent seeking of offline health information. The following are the two key findings: (1) individuals’ health status and sociodemographic factors shape online and offline health information seeking patterns in similar ways; and (2) the demand for physician services is positively associated with offline health information seeking and not with online health information. The net association with online health information would be even smaller after controlling for the effect of concurrent offline health information seeking. These results suggest that extending the availability of online health information would potentially reinforce the unequal access to health information, which could create greater variation in individuals’ health management skills and benefits from health care in the long term. However, it would be associated with little or no increase in the demand for physician services, unlike the implications of previous research.

Development of an Online Telepharmacy Service in the Philippines and Analysis of Its Usage During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: To augment traditional sources of health information at a time of reduced accessibility, a free online telepharmacy service was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: This study details the process of developing and operating an online telepharmacy service, analyzes its usage, and assesses users’ health information-seeking patterns. Methods: The service utilized various platforms for receiving and processing queries, communication, and promotion. Submissions received from March 20 to May 31, 2020 were processed for analysis. Parameters analyzed were time patterns of query submission, response time, service feedback, user and patient demographics, and subjects of inquiry. Results: A total of 271 queries were analyzed. Query frequency decreased over time, consistent with relaxation of quarantine restrictions and increasing availability of information. Peak hours of query influx were outside typical business hours. The majority of users were from the general public (93.8%) and preferred to receive responses through text (61.2%). The majority of users from the general public belonged to the 15- to 25-year-old age group (41.1%) and sought information for oneself. Most submissions mentioned COVID-related topics. From the general public, there was greatest interest in drug indications and vitamins, supplements, and herbal products, and from healthcare professionals, in drug procurement. Users who provided feedback (n = 12) all expressed satisfaction with the service and the information they received. Conclusion: Transition to the “new normal” entails adopting alternative platforms to augment traditional sources of health information. An online telepharmacy service may be utilized to provide and clarify medication information as part of primary care.

Health Information Seeking Behaviors on Social Media During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among American Social Networking Site Users: Survey Study.

BackgroundIn recent years, medical journals have emphasized the increasingly critical role that social media plays in the dissemination of public health information and disease prevention guidelines. However, platforms such as Facebook and Twitter continue to pose unique challenges for clinical health care providers and public health officials alike. In order to effectively communicate during public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it is increasingly critical for health care providers and public health officials to understand how patients gather health-related information on the internet and adjudicate the merits of such information.ObjectiveWith that goal in mind, we conducted a survey of 1003 US-based adults to better understand how health consumers have used social media to learn and stay informed about the COVID-19 pandemic, the extent to which they have relied on credible scientific information sources, and how they have gone about fact-checking pandemic-related information.MethodsA web-based survey was conducted with a sample that was purchased through an industry-leading market research provider. The results were reported with a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of 3. Participants included 1003 US-based adults (aged ≥18 years). Participants were selected via a stratified quota sampling approach to ensure that the sample was representative of the US population. Balanced quotas were determined (by region of the country) for gender, age, race, and ethnicity.ResultsThe results showed a heavy reliance on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic; more than three-quarters of respondents (762/1003, 76%) reported that they have relied on social media at least “a little,” and 59.2% (594/1003) of respondents indicated that they read information about COVID-19 on social media at least once per week. According to the findings, most social media users (638/1003, 63.6%) were unlikely to fact-check what they see on the internet with a health professional, despite the high levels of mistrust in the accuracy of COVID-19–related information on social media. We also found a greater likelihood of undergoing vaccination among those following more credible scientific sources on social media during the pandemic (χ216=50.790; φ=0.258; P<.001).ConclusionsThe findings suggest that health professionals will need to be both strategic and proactive when engaging with health consumers on social media if they hope to counteract the deleterious effects of misinformation and disinformation. Effective training, institutional support, and proactive collaboration can help health professionals adapt to the evolving patterns of health information seeking.

Sudden Attention Shifts on Wikipedia During the COVID-19 Crisis

We study how the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the severe mobility restrictions that ensued, has impacted information access on Wikipedia, the world's largest online encyclopedia. A longitudinal analysis that combines pageview statistics for 12 Wikipedia language editions with mobility reports published by Apple and Google reveals massive shifts in the volume and the nature of information seeking patterns amidst the pandemic. Interestingly, while we observe a transient increase in Wikipedia's pageviews volume following mobility restrictions, the nature of what people seek for was impacted in the long run. These changes are most pronounced for language editions associated with countries in which the most severe mobility restrictions were implemented. We also find that articles belonging to different topics behaved differently, e.g., attention towards entertainment-related topics is lingering and even increasing, while the interest in health- and biology-related topics was either unsubstantial or transient. Our results highlight the utility of Wikipedia to study how the pandemic changed information seeking behavior regarding shifting needs, interests, and concerns.

Erectile dysfunction and prostate diseases are the predominant Google search terms amongst men's health topics.

Patients are becoming increasingly active consumers of health information on the internet with urologic concerns being no exception. Our objective was to explore online search trends for topics related to men's health and identify information-seeking patterns related to news and media coverage of these topics. We used Google Trends ( http://google.com/trends ) to explore search trends for various search terms related to men's health in the United States over a 5-year period. Search queries provided graphs depicting search volume as a function of time, geographical data, and related topics and queries. Isolated spikes in search volume were further explored to identify a related event. Erectile dysfunction was the most-searched topic over the last 5 years in the United States. Prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia were the second and third most-searched topics, respectively. Other popular topics involved symptoms or pathologies of the testicles and penis. Most topics had relatively stable search volumes, with the exceptions of premature ejaculation and Peyronie's disease. Several observed spikes in search volume were attributable to singular events, mostly in the form of online article publications or social media posts. We believe it may be helpful for providers to stay informed of cultural events relating to medical conditions to anticipate patient concerns.

Information-Seeking Patterns During the COVID-19 Pandemic Across the United States: Longitudinal Analysis of Google Trends Data.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people’s lives at unprecedented speed and scale, including how they eat and work, what they are concerned about, how much they move, and how much they can earn. Traditional surveys in the area of public health can be expensive and time-consuming, and they can rapidly become outdated. The analysis of big data sets (such as electronic patient records and surveillance systems) is very complex. Google Trends is an alternative approach that has been used in the past to analyze health behaviors; however, most existing studies on COVID-19 using these data examine a single issue or a limited geographic area. This paper explores Google Trends as a proxy for what people are thinking, needing, and planning in real time across the United States.ObjectiveWe aimed to use Google Trends to provide both insights into and potential indicators of important changes in information-seeking patterns during pandemics such as COVID-19. We asked four questions: (1) How has information seeking changed over time? (2) How does information seeking vary between regions and states? (3) Do states have particular and distinct patterns in information seeking? (4) Do search data correlate with—or precede—real-life events?MethodsWe analyzed searches on 38 terms related to COVID-19, falling into six themes: social and travel; care seeking; government programs; health programs; news and influence; and outlook and concerns. We generated data sets at the national level (covering January 1, 2016, to April 15, 2020) and state level (covering January 1 to April 15, 2020). Methods used include trend analysis of US search data; geographic analyses of the differences in search popularity across US states from March 1 to April 15, 2020; and principal component analysis to extract search patterns across states.ResultsThe data showed high demand for information, corresponding with increasing searches for coronavirus linked to news sources regardless of the ideological leaning of the news source. Changes in information seeking often occurred well in advance of action by the federal government. The popularity of searches for unemployment claims predicted the actual spike in weekly claims. The increase in searches for information on COVID-19 care was paralleled by a decrease in searches related to other health behaviors, such as urgent care, doctor’s appointments, health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. Finally, concerns varied across the country; some search terms were more popular in some regions than in others.ConclusionsCOVID-19 is unlikely to be the last pandemic faced by the United States. Our research holds important lessons for both state and federal governments in a fast-evolving situation that requires a finger on the pulse of public sentiment. We suggest strategic shifts for policy makers to improve the precision and effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions and recommend the development of a real-time dashboard as a decision-making tool.

U.S. Political Partisanship and COVID-19: Risk Information Seeking and Prevention Behaviors

ABSTRACT The global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) poses serious health risks to humans; yet, despite recommendations by governments and health organizations, a significant number of Americans are not engaging in preventive behaviors. To understand and explain this phenomenon, we seek guidance from a theoretical model that merges the risk information seeking and processing model and the theory of planned behavior. Furthermore, given the politicized nature of the pandemic in the U.S., we pose different information seeking patterns according to media partisanship, asserting that partisanship is likely to affect cognitive structures regarding COVID-19 decision making. Our results suggest two distinct routes for information seeking to decision-making. Conservative media use is directly associated with preventive behavior avoidance, while liberal media use is indirectly associated with preventive behavior engagement. This work contributes to our collective understanding of what drives preventive behaviors in the context of health risk, particularly in the case of a highly politicized national health crisis with global implications.

Information Seeking Patterns and COVID-19 in the United States

In this paper, we describe how socioeconomic background and political leaning are related to how U.S. residents look for information on COVID-19. Using representative survey data from 2,280 U.S. internet users, collected in fall 2020, we examine how factors, such as age, gender, race, income, education, political leaning, and internet skills are related to how many different types of sources and what types of sources respondents use to find information on COVID-19. Moreover, we describe how many checking actions individuals use to verify information, and how all of these factors are related to knowledge about COVID-19. Results show that men, those with higher education, higher incomes, and higher self-perceived internet ability, and those who are younger used more types of information sources. Similar patterns emerged for checking actions. When we examined different types of sources (mainstream media, conservative sources, medical sources, and TV sources), three patterns emerged: 1) respondents who have more resources used more types of sources; 2) demographic factors made less difference for conservative media consumers; and 3) conservative media were the only type of source used less by younger age groups than older age groups. Finally, availability of resources and types of information sources were related to differences in factual knowledge. Respondents who had fewer resources, those who used conservative news media, and those who engaged in more checking actions got fewer answers right. This difference could lead to information divides and associated knowledge gaps in the United States regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

Assessing Public Interest Based on Wikipedia's Most Visited Medical Articles During the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak: Search Trends Analysis.

BackgroundIn the current era of widespread access to the internet, we can monitor public interest in a topic via information-targeted web browsing. We sought to provide direct proof of the global population’s altered use of Wikipedia medical knowledge resulting from the new COVID-19 pandemic and related global restrictions.ObjectiveWe aimed to identify temporal search trends and quantify changes in access to Wikipedia Medicine Project articles that were related to the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of medical articles across nine language versions of Wikipedia and country-specific statistics for registered COVID-19 deaths. The observed patterns were compared to a forecast model of Wikipedia use, which was trained on data from 2015 to 2019. The model comprehensively analyzed specific articles and similarities between access count data from before (ie, several years prior) and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wikipedia articles that were linked to those directly associated with the pandemic were evaluated in terms of degrees of separation and analyzed to identify similarities in access counts. We assessed the correlation between article access counts and the number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases and deaths to identify factors that drove interest in these articles and shifts in public interest during the subsequent phases of the pandemic.ResultsWe observed a significant (P<.001) increase in the number of entries on Wikipedia medical articles during the pandemic period. The increased interest in COVID-19–related articles temporally correlated with the number of global COVID-19 deaths and consistently correlated with the number of region-specific COVID-19 deaths. Articles with low degrees of separation were significantly similar (P<.001) in terms of access patterns that were indicative of information-seeking patterns.ConclusionsThe analysis of Wikipedia medical article popularity could be a viable method for epidemiologic surveillance, as it provides important information about the reasons behind public attention and factors that sustain public interest in the long term. Moreover, Wikipedia users can potentially be directed to credible and valuable information sources that are linked with the most prominent articles.

Everyday Life Information Seeking Patterns of Resident Female University Students in Pakistan

Purpose: Everyday life information seeking (ELIS) is essential for the mastery of life and plays a central role in the daily problem-solving activities of all human beings. This study aimed to investigate the everyday life information seeking of female university students residing at hostels in Lahore, Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research approach using a survey method was adopted to identify the dimensions of ELIS and to fill the paucity of research on the topic. Two-hundred and forty-eight female students living in various university and private hostels in Lahore, Pakistan, were surveyed, and the collected data was analyzed using Statistics Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Findings: Results of the study revealed that hostel living expanded the social circle of students, as it offered exposure to diverse multicultural social groups. Female students living in hostels required information related to their academic needs, safety concerns, social life, and self-help issues. They relied mainly on mobiles phones, the internet, social media, and inter-personal relationships for everyday information. Cultural differences, natural hesitation, language barriers, time concerns, and difficulty in identifying reliable information were the primary obstacles in meeting everyday life information needs. Originality/value: The findings of this study can be used as a premise for developing interventions and information services for female students that allow them to live comfortably in a safe environment in hostels and achieve their educational goals. The study results may also provide useful insights for university administrations to establish libraries in hostels to better cater to their female residents’ information needs.

Patterns of Information Seeking among Israeli 12th Grade High School Students Writing Final Research Papers

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; The purpose of the present study was to examine areas of interest and information seeking patterns of Israeli 12th graders who engaged in research work for their final research paper, an optional partial requirement for obtaining an official matriculation diploma. A detailed questionnaire, based on former studies was disseminated in high schools all over the country, yielding 200 usable questionnaires. Main findings: topping the list of chosen topics were the humanities (44%), followed by the sciences (33%), and the social sciences (24%). Considerable differences were found between girls and boys. Girls preferred topics from the social sciences (mainly sociology) and from the humanities (except history) while boys preferred scientific topics. Most respondents had a computer at home (93%) which was usually connected to the Internet (78%) and they had taken some computer course in the past (70%) although a considerable proportion, more girls than boys, did not make use of them. Gender was found to be significantly associated with the chosen field. Taking a computer course and use of home Internet were found to be associated with searching the Internet in the process of information seeking while working on the final paper. A home computer connected to the Internet was associated with the use of formal and informal information sources. The school library was the most-visited one followed by academic, public and home libraries. However, a considerable proportion of the respondents reported no or few visits only.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Most respondents reported receiving only little or no advice and guidance regarding the library and database searching. When guidance was provided, it usually consisted of a single-session on a personal basis. Guidance given by a teacher was frequently face to face, with the student more likely to use an OPAC, while when given by a university teacher it was usually in front of a computer, followed by lesser use of OPACs. In summation, although most students were aware of powerful new IT tools, their use is not as prevalent as may be assumed, mainly due to poor or inadequate guidance.&#x0D;

Formal Hierarchies and Informal Networks: How Organizational Structure Shapes Information Search in Local Government

Abstract Attention to informal communication networks within public organizations has grown in recent decades. While research has documented the role of individual cognition and social structure in understanding information search in organizations, this article emphasizes the importance of formal hierarchy. We argue that the structural attributes of bureaucracies are too important to be neglected when modeling knowledge flows in public organizations. Empirically, we examine interpersonal information-seeking patterns among 143 employees in a small city government, using exponential random graph modeling (ERGM). The results suggest that formal structure strongly shapes information search patterns while accounting for social network variables and individual-level perceptions. We find that formal status, permission pathways, and departmental membership all affect employees’ information search. Understanding the effects of organizational structure on information search networks will offer opportunities to improve information flows in public organizations via design choices.

Information activities in serious leisure as a catalyst for self-actualisation and social engagement

PurposeThis paper reports findings from a research project about human information behaviour in the context of serious leisure. Various forms of information activities in this context have been identified and categorised to depict common patterns of information seeking, sharing, using and producing.Design/methodology/approachThe project adopted a qualitative approach in an interpretive paradigm using a thematic analysis method. Data-collection technique was semi-structured interview and 20 volunteers were recruited via a maximum variation sampling strategy. The collected data was transcribed and thematically analysed to identify the main concepts and categories.FindingsThe participants have been experiencing six qualities of serious leisure during their long-term engagement with their hobbies or voluntary jobs and their experiences can be fully mapped onto the serious leisure perspective. The findings also confirmed serious leisure is a unique context in terms of the diversity of information activities embedded into a wide range of individual and collective actions in this context. Information seeking and sharing in serious leisure is not only a source of personal satisfaction for the participants, it also can provide them with a sense of purpose in a meaningful journey towards self-actualization and social inclusion.Research limitations/implicationsThe generalisability of the findings needs to be examined in wider populations. Nonetheless, the existing findings can be useful for follow-up research in the area.Practical implicationsThis study will be useful in both policy and practice levels. In the policy level, it will be beneficial for cultural policy makers to gain a better understanding about the nature of leisure activities. In the practice level, it will be helpful for serious leisure participants to understand the value of information seeking and sharing in their leisure endeavours. Also, information professionals can use it to enhance the quality of their services for the serious leisure participants who are usually among devoted patrons of libraries, museums, archives and galleries.Social implicationsLearning about serious leisure can provide new insights on people preferences in terms of choosing different entertaining and recreational pursuits – such as indoor and outdoor hobbies – in their free time.Originality/valueThe informational aspects of serious leisure is an emerging and evolving ground of research. This paper provides empirical evidence on this topic from a specific context in the regional areas in Australia.

Information Seeking Problems that May Occur Against Covid-19 Vacccine When it is Ready

Information-seeking patterns of vaccine receivers have over time been determined their vaccine decisions.These patterns are mostly represented by their demographic representation. Therefore it is interesting toreview how these demographic representations have affected vaccine choices in the past. This paper wouldserve as a guide to health officials, human communication experts and pharmaceutical companies in thedevelopment and distribution of Coronavirus vaccines when it is ready

Obtaining Information From Different Sources Matters During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background and ObjectivesOlder adults might be less information-seeking in comparison to younger adults. Yet, when a crisis hits, rather than relying on only a few information sources, it is important for people to gather information from a variety of different sources. With more information sources, people are more likely to obtain a more realistic perception of the situation and engagement of health behaviors. This study examined the association between age and information-seeking patterns, and how information-seeking patterns influenced worry about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and protective measures taken during the pandemic.Research Design and MethodsThis study was conducted from March to May 2020. Ninety younger adults and 105 older adults were recruited in a 21-day daily diary study. Participants reported the types of sources where they received COVID-19-related information, worry from these information sources and protective health behaviors performed each day. Multilevel serial mediation analysis was performed.ResultsConcurrent and time-lagged analyses both revealed that older adults received information from more sources, and more frequently from traditional (e.g., newspaper and TV) and interpersonal sources (e.g., information shared by friends and families), than did younger adults. When receiving information from more sources, older adults were more worried about COVID-19 and performed more protective health behaviors.Discussion and ImplicationsThese results demonstrated the utility of having more information sources in the context of a public health crisis and offered suggestions for future public communication and community engagement.