Information-seeking Patterns Research Articles

Improving Shared Decision Making in Latino Men With Prostate Cancer: A Thematic Analysis.

Background. Multiple studies have shown that digitally mediated decision aids help prepare patients for medical decision making with their providers. However, few studies have investigated whether decision-support preferences differ between non-English-speaking and English-speaking Latino men with limited literacy. Objective. To identify and compare health information seeking patterns, preferences for information presentation, and interest in digital decision aids in a sample of Southern Californian underserved Latino men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer at a county hospital. Methods. We conducted semistructured, in-depth telephone interviews with 12 Spanish-speaking and 8 English-speaking Latino men using a purposive sampling technique. Following transcription of taped interviews, Spanish interviews were translated. Using a coding protocol developed by the team, two bilingual members jointly analyzed the transcripts for emerging themes. Coder agreement exceeded 80%. Differences were resolved through discussion. Results. Thematic differences between groups with different preferred languages emerged. Most respondents engaged in online health information seeking using cellphones, perceived a paternalistic patient-provider relationship, and expressed willingness to use hypothetical digital decision aids if recommended by their provider. English speakers reported higher digital technology proficiency for health-related searches. They also more frequently indicated family involvement in digital search related to their condition and preferred self-guided, web-based decision aids. In comparison, Spanish speakers reported lower digital technology proficiency and preferred family-involved, coach-guided, paper and visual decision aids. English speakers reported substantially higher levels of formal education. Conclusion. Preferences regarding the use of digital technology to inform prostate cancer treatment decision making among underserved Latino men varied depending on preferred primary language. Effective preparation of underserved Latino men for shared decision making requires consideration of alternative approaches depending on level of education attainment and preferred primary language.

Information Seeking Pattern of Information Resources in Selected Engineering and Management Institute Libraries of Haryana: A Study

Information Seeking Pattern of Information Resources in Selected Engineering and Management Institute Libraries of Haryana: A Study

Online information seeking patterns and social inequality in a digital economy

ABSTRACT This article aims to map the information-seeking habits of population groups in a digital economy. The growing use of technologies in the modern online era has increased the availability of information regarding services and items through user-generated content and applications. However, the potential for leverage through ICTs may not be evenly distributed across different consumer segments. We use population-level survey data used as the basis for the official statistics in Finland to find differences according to gender, age cohort, education, income and residential area. The results show that Finns are active in using different channels of information acquisition. We found significant differences in how information is obtained between population groups. Men and younger cohorts are more accustomed to using a variety of services and sources for seeking out information. The results also highlighted educational differences that have been rooted in the Finnish information society. Using a nationally representative data, the article points out digital inequalities linked to potential differences in consumer benefits.

Understanding the relationship between age and information-seeking in the context of COVID-19

Socioemotional selectivity theory proposes that older adults engage in less information-seeking than younger adults as future time perspective becomes more limited and expansive goals are prioritized less. However, gathering information is crucial in emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for older adults, who are particularly vulnerable to the virus. This study aims to better understand the association between age and information-seeking patterns during the current pandemic. Two hundred and sixty-six participants (age range = 18 – 84, Mage = 38.86, female = 77.06%, received postsecondary education = 83.08%, born in Canada = 73.68%) completed an online study between May and August 2020. We found that older age was associated with more information-seeking time (b = .45, SE = .16, p < .001). We then investigated whether perceived worries of getting COVID-19 might provide insights into this association. Findings point to a partial mediation with a significant direct effect (b = .37, SE = .16, p = .02, 95% bootstrap CI=[.07, .68]), a marginally significant indirect effect (b = .08, SE = .04, p = .06, 95% bootstrap CI=[-.003, .18]) and a significant total effect (b = .46, SE = .16, p < .001, 95% bootstrap CI=[.14, .77]). That is, older adults engaged in more information-seeking than younger adults in contexts in which information-seeking was personally relevant as indicated by perceived worries. These findings shed light on key correlates of information-seeking in older adulthood and highlight the importance for government and health organizations to make suitable information accessible for older adults.

Predictors of Seeking Health Information and Mental Health Support in U.S. Prisons: A Study Using 2014 PIAAC Data

Being in prison increases the vulnerability to poor health, especially mental illnesses. This is evident in the documented health disparities between prison inmates and the general population. For example, suicide rates among inmates are higher than in the general population. There is an urgent need to understand how inmates experience mental well-being. This is important as some inmates serve long/life sentences and some will need to successfully re-integrate into the society. Although they have a constitutional right to health care access through the Eight Amendment, little is known of the health information and mental health support seeking patterns among inmates. The current study examined factors associated with the amount of health information accessed, and participation in mental health support groups in US prisons. Data (N= 645) from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (2014) were analyzed using linear and logistic regressions. Sample weights were applied in the analyses. Results show statistically significant relationships between amount of health information acquired and age (66 years and above), race, health-status, readiness to learn, literacy skill, and numeracy skill. Social trust moderated the effect of education on the odds of participating in mental health support groups. Also, gender, work duration, attending substance abuse support and life skills groups were significant predictors. Our study may provide insight for stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, clinicians, social workers, and wardens, etc.) working in partnership to deliver a more tailored health interventions for inmates, by highlighting key contextual issues predicting mental health and well-being within prison settings.

Patterns of online health information seeking after visiting a physician: perceptions of adolescents from high schools in central Belgrade, Serbia

Browsing webpages that offer health information allows visitors to remain anonymous, particularly when researching sensitive topics. Uncertainty about confidentiality may be a barrier for adolescents to discuss their health in-person with a physician and seek further health information on the Internet after seeing a physician. To explore factors contributing to perceived online health information seeking after visiting a physician in a sample of high school students. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to January 2017. The study included 702 high school students. Socio-demographic and behavioral questionnaire as well as the electronic health (e-health) literacy scale (eHEALS) were used to collect data. Students described their perceptions of what they commonly do after visiting a physician, which was not connected to a particular clinic at any point in time. A total of 347 students (49.4%) perceived that they search for online health information after visiting a physician. Attending humanities-languages school program, lower education level of parents, being older at first Internet use, stronger influence of online health information on students' behaviour, better e-health literacy, use of smartphones, YouTube, social networks and heath forums were associated with perceived online health information seeking after visiting a physician. One-half of high school students in this study perceived that they search for online health information after having visited a physician. Our results suggest that many adolescents might seek additional information about health.

What questions reveal about novices’ attempts to make sense of data visualizations: Patterns and misconceptions

Data visualization literacy has attracted widespread interest due to the urgent need to analyze unprecedented volumes of data we have nowadays. Much work on visualization literacy focuses on asking people to answer specific questions about the data depicted in a visual representation, in an attempt to try to understand how people make sense of the underlying data. In this work, we investigate, through a user survey, the initial questions people pose when first encountering a visualization. We analyzed a set of 1058 questions that 22 participants created about 20 different visualizations, deriving templates for the recurring types of questions that emerged as information-seeking patterns, and classifying the various kinds of errors they introduced in the questions. By understanding the common mistakes they made when asking data-related questions, we now feel better equipped to inform further research on producing and consuming data visualization concepts. The results of the study reported in this paper can be used in teaching data visualization, as they uncover and classify frequent errors people make when trying to make sense of data represented visually. The study may also contribute to the design of visualization recommender systems, as the question patterns revealed what people expect to answer with each visualization.

Beliefs and Information Seeking in Patients With Cancer in Southwest China: Survey Study.

BackgroundAlthough previous studies have reported the cancer information-seeking behaviors among patients in high-income countries, the cancer information-seeking practices of patients living in low- and middle-income areas are less known.ObjectiveThis study investigated the beliefs and information-seeking patterns of cancer patients in southwest China.MethodsA questionnaire was designed, and data were collected in two hospitals (N=285) in southwest China. Statistical analyses included bivariate analyses and regressions.ResultsPatients’ attitudes towards cancer fatalism were significantly influenced by marital status (P<.001), education (P<.001), and household income (P<.001). Moreover, endorsing fatalistic belief was positively associated with age (r=0.35, P<.001). The regression model showed that younger patients (odds ratio [OR] 0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99) and those with higher education (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.09-2.81) were more likely to seek information. Additionally, patients who were less confident in getting information were more likely to find information (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.15-2.52), while fatalism belief was not significant in the regression (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.22-1.95).ConclusionsThis study explored the information-seeking patterns of cancer patients in southwest China. It was found that many Chinese people endorsed cancer fatalism. These pessimistic beliefs about the potential to prevent and to cure cancer correlate with rather than cause cancer-related information seeking. However, self-efficacy about the confidence in finding needed cancer information was a significant predictor of information-seeking.

General Public's Information-Seeking Patterns of Topics Related to Obesity: Google Trends Analysis.

BackgroundObesity is a major public health challenge, and recent literature sheds light on the concept of “normalization” of obesity.ObjectiveWe aimed to study the worldwide pattern of web-based information seeking by public on obesity and on its related terms and topics using Google Trends.MethodsWe compared the relative frequency of obesity-related search terms and topics between 2004 and 2019 on Google Trends. The mean relative interest scores for these terms over the 4-year quartiles were compared.ResultsThe mean relative interest score of the search term “obesity” consistently decreased with time in all four quartiles (2004-2019), whereas the relative interest scores of the search topics “weight loss” and “abdominal obesity” increased. The topic “weight loss” was popular during the month of January, and its median relative interest score for January was higher than that for other months for the entire study period (P<.001). The relative interest score for the search term “obese” decreased over time, whereas those scores for the terms “body positivity” and “self-love” increased after 2013.ConclusionsDespite a worldwide increase in the prevalence of obesity, its popularity as an internet search term diminished over time. The reason for peaks in months should be explored and applied to the awareness campaigns for better effectiveness. These patterns suggest normalization of obesity in society and a rise of public curiosity about image-related obesity rather than its medical implications and harm.

Gender and cognitive factors influencing information seeking of graduate students at Kenyatta University Library

Background: Gender has been identified as a possible influencing factor in users’ information-seeking process. Previous studies have alluded to the fact that gender as a variable may be useful for a better understanding of the cognitive and social background of human information processing and may have important implications in the information-seeking process. Although a number of studies have investigated gender, amongst other variables, as having an effect on the information-seeking process of users, no attempt has been made to investigate the relationship between gender and cognitive factors on the information-seeking patterns of graduate students of Kenyatta University Library. Objective: The study investigates gender and cognitive factors influencing the information-seeking process of graduate students at Kenyatta University Library. Methodology: To achieve this objective, the study developed a theoretical framework which can be used by academic libraries as a basis for implementing both digital and reference desk services in order to meet the dynamic user needs. The study then investigated whether there were any gender differences through the correlation coefficient in the context of expectancy theory. The motivational process amongst the male and female users was then examined to establish whether there was any difference. Results: This study found no gender difference in all the variables considered, including interaction service quality, outcome (need satisfaction,) service satisfaction, users’ performance of service, past experience, expectancy and effort. Conclusion: This study found no gender difference in all the variables investigated. The implication of the findings was that there is no need for mainstreaming gender in service programming in the library service.

Contextual Influences on Child Feeding in Two South Asian Immigrant Groups

Child obesity is a major health disparity, with low-income communities bearing a disproportionate burden of disease. Although the powerful influence of socio-economic status on child diet and feeding practices is well established, its local contextual mechanisms are not necessarily well understood. This study used a qualitative comparative design to explore the socio-cultural context of child feeding ethnically similar but economically diverse immigrant families. Seventeen in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with affluent and low-income immigrant mothers from the South Asian subcontinent. We sought to explore potential contextual influences on maternal feeding practices, including: maternal beliefs and values, patterns of help and information seeking, family and household, and impacts of the chrono-system—the role of memory and life transitions. Our findings help to explain mechanisms underlying SES disparities in child obesity in this group, and maybe helpful in designing tailored interventions aimed at reducing these disparities.

The Assessment of Cyberchondria: Instruments for Assessing Problematic Online Health-Related Research

Cyberchondria is a problematic, i.e. distressing or anxiety-increasing pattern of online health information seeking. The development of psychometrically sound instruments for the assessment of cyberchondria is imperative for better understanding of this construct. The aim of the present article is to provide a systematic literature review of cyberchondria instruments. Although several measures of cyberchondria have been developed, the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS) has been used most often. The CSS is based on a solid theoretical framework, with very good to excellent reliability and validity. It has been translated into several languages. Modifications of the original version of the CSS have been introduced to refine its conceptual foundation and improve its utility by making it shorter. Further improvement of the CSS may boost the quality of cyberchondria research. There remains a need to test the theoretical underpinnings of the CSS and consider alternative models of cyberchondria.

Abstract A012: Differences of trust in cancer information from various sources among Hispanic adults in the United States: Analysis of the 2014 HINTS

Abstract Introduction: Across all racial and ethnic groups, recent evidence has demonstrated a widespread adoption of potential eHealth/mHealth tools such as smartphones and social media and networking sites, which can be leveraged to reduce cancer disparities. However, Hispanics are significantly less likely than other racial and ethnic minority groups to seek cancer information; further, those who have sought cancer information experience mistrust and lack confidence in their ability to accurately seek information. Our study aimed to identify social and demographic patterns of cancer information seeking among Hispanic ethnic groups, as well as differences in trust of various sources of cancer information. Methods: Data from the 2014 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 4, Cycles 2 and 4 were used; a total of 1051 Hispanic participants were included in the analytic sample. Primary predictor was Hispanic ethnicity, categorized as Mexican American, Cuban or Puerto Rican, and other. Primary outcomes were trust in various cancer information sources (e.g., doctor, family or friends, media sources, internet, health agencies/organizations, and religious organizations). Ordinal outcome variables were dichotomized due to nonproportional odds into low levels of trust and high levels of trust. We analyzed the data using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for social demographic characteristics (e.g., age, nativity, socioeconomic status, cancer history, and smoking). Results: In fully adjusted models, women were 70% more likely to trust cancer information from family or friends, and newspapers or magazines, compared to men. Compared to younger Hispanics, those ages 65 and older were twice more likely to trust cancer information from religious organizations (ages 65-74 OR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.06-4.53; &amp;gt; 75 OR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.08-6.21), as well as family or friends (ages 50-64 OR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.06-3.42; ages 65-74 OR = 2.14, 95% CI 1.07-4.27; &amp;gt; 75 OR = 2.60, 95% CI 1.17-6.04). Interestingly, the oldest Hispanic participants were 3 times more likely to trust cancer information from the Internet. Hispanics without family history of cancer were 2.7 times more likely to trust cancer information from doctors, compared to those with a family history. There were no ethnic subgroup differences in trust of cancer information source. Conclusions: As Hispanics age, trust in cancer information from nonmedical sources, such as family, internet, and faith-based organizations, increased. As no differences between ethnic subgroups were observed, cancer information through various sources may not need to be further tailored to specific subgroups. As the availability of cancer information has become more widespread from technological advancements, health care and public educational approaches should increasingly include family and friends, as well as religious organizations, to ensure accuracy of cancer information and messaging. Citation Format: Marlene Camacho-Rivera, Jason Morency, Rose Saint Fleur-Calixte. Differences of trust in cancer information from various sources among Hispanic adults in the United States: Analysis of the 2014 HINTS [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr A012.

A Digital Pornography Literacy Resource Co-Designed With Vulnerable Young People: Development of "The Gist".

BackgroundThe impact of viewing pornography at a young age on the sexual health of subgroups of young people is an important public health issue. However, the topic is complex and extremely sensitive, and best practices for research and harm reduction are yet to be defined. Drawing on cross-disciplinary approaches, such as co-design, is one way to achieve a better understanding of the issue among vulnerable young people and to create needs-based and evidence-informed digital resources to promote pornography literacy.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to co-design a relevant, usable, and acceptable digital prototype to address the pornography literacy needs of vulnerable young people.MethodsIn total, 17 young people aged between 14 and 23 years who were engaged in youth services programs or alternative education programs were recruited to participate in 4 co-design workshops with a multidisciplinary design team.ResultsAlthough the participants could identify problems with pornography and critique its messages, they lacked the information to understand alternative healthy attitudes and behaviors. A digital resource that provides detailed and practical information about sex, sexual ethics, and relationships may help vulnerable young people to identify and contrast with any problematic messages they receive from both pornography and society. Embedding this information with pornography literacy messages may be a more effective way of addressing underlying attitudes. Acknowledging information-seeking patterns and leveraging user interaction patterns from commonly used digital platforms among users may enhance engagement with resources. Importantly, digital platforms are perceived among this group as a source of anonymous secondary information but would not be organically accessed among this group without face-to-face conversations as an access point.ConclusionsThis paper highlights the potential for pornography literacy to be embedded within real and practical information about having sex, navigating sexuality, and healthy relationships. The study findings include important recommendations for the conceptualization of digital pornography literacy programs and opportunities for cross-disciplinary co-design research to address complex and emerging health issues.

Disconfirmation of confirmation bias: the influence of counter-attitudinal information

The current experiment investigated whether counter-attitudinal information can alter a pre-existing attitude and the accompanying confirmation bias. Sixty-three non-clinical children (9–12 years) were shown pictures of a positive animal (quokka) or a dangerous-looking animal (aye aye). For both animals attitudes and information seeking patterns were obtained. Next, they received counter-attitudinal information of each animal; attitudes and seeking patterns were reassessed. We found that the aye aye was perceived as more dangerous and less kind compared to the quokka. A negative confirmation bias was observed for the aye aye, more negative than positive or neutral information was requested. For the quokka this pattern was absent, more positive and negative than neutral information was selected. The counter-attitudinal information decreased the scariness of the aye aye, but did marginally alter that of the quokka. Additionally, for the aye aye counter-attitudinal information increased search for positive and neutral information and decreased search for negative information. For the quokka the counter-attitudinal information only increased search for neutral information. The animals no longer differed from each other and no clear confirmation bias patterns were present. These results indicate that it is possible to change pre-existing values and their accompanying information search patterns.

Understanding medical student evidence-based medicine information seeking in an authentic clinical simulation.

ObjectiveEvidence-based medicine practices of medical students in clinical scenarios are not well understood. Optimal foraging theory (OFT) is one framework that could be useful in breaking apart information-seeking patterns to determine effectiveness and efficiency of different methods of information seeking. The aims of this study were to use OFT to determine the number and type of resources used in information seeking when medical students answer a clinical question, to describe common information-seeking patterns, and identify patterns associated with higher quality answers to a clinical question.MethodsMedical students were observed via screen recordings while they sought evidence related to a clinical question and provided a written response for what they would do for that patient based on the evidence that they found.ResultsHalf (51%) of study participants used only 1 source before answering the clinical question. While the participants were able to successfully and efficiently navigate point-of-care tools and search engines, searching PubMed was not favored, with only half (48%) of PubMed searches being successful. There were no associations between information-seeking patterns and the quality of answers to the clinical question.ConclusionClinically experienced medical students most frequently relied on point-of-care tools alone or in combination with PubMed to answer a clinical question. OFT can be used as a framework to understand the information-seeking practices of medical students in clinical scenarios. This has implications for both teaching and assessment of evidence-based medicine in medical students.

Incorporation of Information-Seeking Behavior Into Food Insecurity Research

Limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods affects the health of individuals. Because of its association with chronic health conditions, addressing food insecurity may improve health outcomes and decrease health-related costs. This study explores whether and how information seeking as captured by calls made to United Way 2-1-1 can be used to identify food-insecure areas and information deserts-communities with low proportions of residents accessing government food resources but with high rates of 2-1-1 calls for emergency food resources. Details regarding calls made to United Way of Salt Lake 2-1-1 for emergency food resources between 2014 and 2018 (n=63,221) were analyzed in 2019. Using GIS methods, areas with the highest number of calls for emergency food resources (hot spots) were identified; multinomial logistic regression was used to identify community-level sociodemographic predictors of food insecurity. Areas with a smaller proportion of the population aged <18 years, more female householders, and more African Americans are associated with higher odds of being food-insecure. Patterns of information seeking about emergency food resources suggest that, despite statewide access to federal means-tested food programs, significant food needs remain. This novel approach in food insecurity research can help public health officials and health systems address an important social determinant of health by identifying areas vulnerable to food insecurity. In addition, this work may be useful in benchmarking food needs, information seeking, and replicating analyses where similar data are available.

Information seeking patterns of psychiatrists during clinical practice.

This study is based on Gerardo Ruiz's doctoral thesis on the information seeking patterns of psychiatrists in Mexico City, which he completed in January 2018 from the Autonomous National University of Mexico. The paper presents the key findings from a survey and interview involving 92 psychiatrists to identify the differing roles and information behaviours of three types of mental health practitioners. Similarities and divergences were found in their behavioural patterns in obtaining information to make clinical decisions, depending on purpose for the sought information which aligned to the role of the psychiatrist and on the information contexts of institutions in which they work. The implications for practice highlighted in this study focus on the influencing factors of time and availability of sources in enabling the mental health specialist to search, disseminate and evaluate information to be used in clinical practice, as well as to have in place broader communication with colleagues in order to enrich clinical care for better diagnosis and treatment.F.J.

Responses to mass shooting events

Research SummaryPublic mass shootings tend to capture the public's attention and receive substantial coverage in both traditional media and online social networks (OSNs) and have become a salient topic in them. Motivated by this, the overarching objective of this paper is to advance our understanding of how the public responds to mass shooting events in such media outlets. Specifically, it aims to examine whether distinct information seeking patterns emerge over time and space, and whether associations between public mass shooting events emerge in online activities and discourse. Towards this objective, we study a sequence of five public mass shooting events that have occurred in the United States between October 2017 and May 2018 across three major dimensions: the public's online information seeking activities, the media coverage, and the discourse that emerges in a prominent OSN. To capture these dimensions, respectively, data was collected and analyzed from Google Trends, LexisNexis, Wikipedia Page views, and Twitter. The results of our analysis suggest that distinct temporal patterns emerge in the public's information seeking activities across different platforms, and that associations between an event and its preceding events emerge both in the media coverage and in OSNs.Policy ImplicationStudying the evolution of discourse in OSNs provides a valuable lens to observe how society's views on public mass shooting events are formed and evolved over time and space. The ability to analyze such data allows tapping into the dynamics of reshaping and reframing public mass shooting events in the public sphere and enable it to be closely studied and modeled. A deeper understanding of this process, along with the emerging associations drawn between such events, can then provide policy and decision‐makers with opportunities to better design policies and communicate the significance of their goals and objectives to the public.

Information seeking pattern of plantation research faculty of Agricultural and Horticultural Universities in south India

Information seeking pattern of plantation research faculty of Agricultural and Horticultural Universities in south India