Information-seeking Strategies Research Articles

Modelling of physicians’ clinical information-seeking behaviour in Iran: a grounded theory study

ObjectivesExploring clinical information-seeking behaviour (CISB) and its associated factors contributes to its theoretical advancement and offers a valuable framework for addressing physicians’ information needs. This study delved into the dimensions,...

Nudges to Mitigate Confirmation Bias during Web Search on Debated Topics: Support vs. Manipulation

When people use web search engines to find information on debated topics, the search results they encounter can influence opinion formation and practical decision-making with potentially far-reaching consequences for the individual and society. However, current web search engines lack support for information-seeking strategies that enable responsible opinion formation, e.g., by mitigating confirmation bias and motivating engagement with diverse viewpoints. We conducted two preregistered user studies to test the benefits and risks of an intervention aimed at confirmation bias mitigation. In the first study, we tested the effect of warning labels, warning of the risk of confirmation bias, combined with obfuscations, hiding selected search results per default. We observed that obfuscations with warning labels effectively reduce engagement with search results. These initial findings did not allow conclusions about the extent to which the reduced engagement was caused by the warning label (reflective nudging element) versus the obfuscation (automatic nudging element). If obfuscation was the primary cause, this would raise concerns about harming user autonomy. We thus conducted a follow-up study to test the effect of warning labels and obfuscations separately. According to our findings, obfuscations run the risk of manipulating behavior instead of guiding it, while warning labels without obfuscations (purely reflective) do not exhaust processing capacities but encourage users to actively choose to decrease engagement with attitude-confirming search results. Therefore, given the risks and unclear benefits of obfuscations and potentially other automatic nudging elements to guide engagement with information, we call for prioritizing interventions that aim to enhance human cognitive skills and agency instead.

Are you Cheating on Me? Identifying Factors Contributing to the Use of Suspicion Confirmation and Avoidance Strategies

This study integrates communication, motivational, and behavioral elements to identify factors that lead to the use of key information seeking strategies people employ to confirm or avoid suspicions about a partner’s potential cheating. Individuals (N = 246) who suspected a partner’s infidelity reported engaging in five general suspicion confirmation strategies: conversation, intrusion, snooping, surveillance, and avoidance. SEM results revealed that individuals who reported more suspicious partner behavior, greater suspicion and uncertainty about a partner’s infidelity, suspicion-related anxiety, and a stronger desire to confirm their suspicions reported using the suspicion confirmation and avoidance strategies more often.

Women’s use of online health and social media resources to make sense of their polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis: a qualitative study

BackgroundWith the growing availability of online health resources and the widespread use of social media to better understand health conditions, people are increasingly making sense of and managing their health conditions using resources beyond their health professionals and personal networks. However, where the condition is complex and poorly understood, this can involve extensive “patient work” to locate, interpret and test the information available. The overall purpose of this study was to investigate how women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) across two healthcare systems engage with online health resources and social media to better understand this complex and poorly understood lifelong endocrine disorder.MethodsA semi-structured interview study was conducted with women from the US (N=8\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$N=8$$\\end{document}) and UK (N=7\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$N=7$$\\end{document}) who had been diagnosed with PCOS within the previous five years. Transcribed data was analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis method.ResultsWe highlight the information needs and information-seeking strategies women use to make sense of how PCOS affects them, to gain emotional support, and to help them find an effective treatment. We also show how women with PCOS use online health and social media resources to compare themselves to women they view as “normal” and other women with PCOS, to find their sense of “normal for me” along a spectrum of this disorder.ConclusionWe draw on previous models of sense-making and finding normal for other complex and sensitive health conditions to capture the nuances of making sense of PCOS. We also discuss implications for the design and use of social media to support people managing PCOS.

Behavioural economics theories in information-seeking behaviour research: A systematic review

This study aims to systematically reveal the application of behavioural economics theories in information-seeking behaviour research to promote the theoretical development of information-seeking behaviour research. A systematic review method was utilised to collect 92 relevant articles published from 1989 to 2022. The temporal development of these articles, research themes, and the theoretical contributions of behavioural economics theories to information-seeking behaviour research were organised and analysed. The findings are as follows: First, behavioural economics theories have been applied in information-seeking behaviour research for more than30 years and have entered an accelerated development stage. Second, behavioural economics theories are widely adaptable to information-seeking behaviour research. Early behavioural economics theories are applicable to 10 research topics such as information-seeking stopping behaviour and information evaluation, while contemporary behavioural economics theories are applicable to 16 research topics: information-seeking strategies and health information-seeking. Third, behavioural economics theories have produced four contributions to information-seeking behaviour research by revealing the mechanisms underlying information-seeking behaviour, exploring behavioural and cognitive strategies in information-seeking behaviour, interpreting the biases underlying information-seeking behaviour, and constructing theoretical models for information-seeking behaviour.

Information-seeking Strategies Used and Challenges Encountered by Art and Design Students in Uganda When Seeking Information

Access to relevant information is crucial for Art and Design students to meet their information needs and achieve their educational goals. This paper explores the information-seeking strategies used by Art and Design students in diplomaawarding institutions in Uganda, and the challenges they encounter when seeking information to meet their information needs. This is part of a doctoral study that investigated the information-seeking behaviour of Art and Design students in diploma-awarding institutions in Uganda. The study population comprised Art and Design students in the four Art and Design institutions, library heads in the same institutions, and directors at the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). Data was collected using questionnaire, interview and observation methods. Data was collected from February to August 2022. The study revealed that Art and Design students use various information-seeking strategies to locate and access information. Browsing online images, photographing activities in the environment, recording videos of activities in the environment, and consulting Art and Design librarians were the most used. The least used strategies included browsing art and design collections on library shelves, using keywords, and using Boolean operators. The study found that Art and Design students encountered varied challenges when seeking information. The key challenges were lack of Internet at the institutions, inadequate and outdated information materials in the library, slow Internet, high cost of Internet data, and lack or inadequate knowledge to evaluate the quality of information on the Internet. The key recommendations included the need for Art and Design institutions to invest heavily in ICT infrastructure, including Internet connectivity, and also to develop information literacy courses for the students; the need for the NCHE prioritise monitoring of the study institutions to ensure compliance with library standards; and the need for the Government of Uganda zero-rate the Internet in the study institutions.

A model of information-seeking strategies for laypeople in healthcare decision-making

A model of information-seeking strategies for laypeople in healthcare decision-making

Seeking and sharing information in collective olfactory search

Searching for a target is a task of fundamental importance for many living organisms. Long-distance search guided by olfactory cues is a prototypical example of such a process. The searcher receives signals that are sparse and very noisy, making the task extremely difficult. Information-seeking strategies have thus been proven to be effective for individual olfactory search and their extension to collective search has been the subject of some exploratory studies. Here, we study in detail how sharing information among members of a group affects the search behavior when agents adopt information-seeking strategies as Infotaxis and its recently introduced variant, Space-Aware Infotaxis. Our results show that even in absence of explicit coordination, sharing information leads to an effective partitioning of the search space among agents that results in a significant decrease of mean search times.

The time-course of visual scanning behaviour of paramedicine students upon arrival at a simulated emergency call

BackgroundLimited knowledge exists regarding how paramedics acquire an understanding of the scene they encounter upon arrival, despite their need to quickly gather information for effective clinical decision-making. This study examined visual scanning behaviour during the early stages of simulated emergency calls. MethodsEye movements of 10 paramedicine students were recorded during simulated calls conducted in both a high-fidelity classroom setting and a full sensory immersion setting. ResultsStudents focused on similar areas in both settings, with most time spent looking at the patient rather than distractors such as room features or other people. Analysis of gaze behaviour across the first five minutes revealed a more nuanced pattern: attention initially gravitated towards distractors but decreased as students became familiar with their surroundings and focused on the task at hand. This pattern was consistent across both simulation settings, indicating that information-seeking strategies may be independent of scene complexity. ConclusionsExpertise relies on the ability to differentiate between relevant and irrelevant information. Given the unpredictable nature of their work, paramedics must continuously adapt their understanding of a scene from the moment they enter it. Understanding how this skill develops may help identify expert strategies to inform training of novice paramedics.

Praxeological learning approach in the development of pre-service EFL teachers' TPACK and online information-seeking strategies

This study is purposed to implement and test a praxeological learning approach to enhance pre-service EFL teachers’ technological pedagogical content knowledge and online information-seeking skills. This study was conducted based on a convergent parallel mixed design involving thirty-seven sophomore pre-service EFL teachers. Multiple data collection tools were administered at the beginning and end of the course, and data were analyzed aligning with quantitative and qualitative methods complementarily. Active and decisive participation of the pre-service teachers shaped the course design following the sections of independent study, context orientation, and context-based study within the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Framework. Findings showed that pre-service teachers’ technological pedagogical content knowledge and online information-seeking strategies of evaluation, selecting main ideas, and trial & error were significantly improved. Praxeological learning, following the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Framework step-by-step and highlighting context-sensitivity, scaffolded pre-service teachers’ knowledge construction cumulatively and provided them with authentic learning experiences. The praxeological learning approach can support long-term motivation for technology integration knowledge and skills acquisition for pre-service teachers’ future careers.

A Diabetes Education App for People Living With Type 2 Diabetes: Co-Design Study.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing global health concern, including in Singapore. Diabetes education programs have been shown to be effective in improving health outcomes and diabetes self-management skills. Mobile health apps have emerged as useful tools for diabetes education; however, their use and acceptance by the target population remain inconsistent. Therefore, end-user participation in the design and development of a mobile health app is crucial for designing an acceptable app that can improve outcomes for populations with a chronic disease. The objective of this study was to apply an end-user participatory approach to co-design a diabetes education app prototype for people living with T2D by exploring their perceptions, acceptance, and usability of an app prototype, as well as their diabetes experience and perspectives on digital diabetes education. A total of 8 people with T2D, who were recruited from diabetes management Facebook groups, participated in 4 web-based surveys via Qualtrics and 2 structured interviews via Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, Inc) between August 20, 2021, and January 28, 2022. Descriptive statistics and thematic analyses of the discussion and iterative feedback on the app prototype were used to assess the participants' perceptions of living with T2D, attitudes toward digital diabetes education, and acceptance of the prototype. Analyses of the surveys and interview data revealed 3 themes: challenges of living with T2D; validation, acceptability, and usability of the diabetes education app prototype; and perspectives on digital diabetes education. In the first theme, participants highlighted the importance of solitary accountability, translating knowledge into practice, and developing pragmatic self-consciousness. The second theme indicated that the diabetes education app prototype was acceptable, with information and appearance being key; revealed ambivalent and polarized opinions toward the chatbot; and confirmed potential impact of the app on diabetes self-management skills and practice. The third theme comprised the necessity of using a variety of information-seeking strategies and recommendations for desired content and app qualities, including accessibility, adaptability, autonomy, evidence-based design and content, gamification, guidance, integration, personalization, and up-to-date content. The findings were used to reiterate the app design. Despite a small sample size, the study demonstrated the feasibility of engaging and empowering people living with T2D to consider digital therapeutics for diabetes self-management skills and practice. Participants gave rather positive feedback on the design and content of the app prototype, with some recommendations for improvements. The findings suggest that incorporating end-user feedback into app design can lead to the creation of feasible and acceptable tools for diabetes education, potentially improving outcomes for populations with a chronic disease. Further research is needed to test the impact of the refined diabetes education app prototype on diabetes self-management skills and practice and quality of life.

Do Pictograms on Medication Packages Cause People to Consult Package Inserts Less Often? If so, With What Consequences?

Overall, pharmaceutical pictograms seem to improve medication adherence. However, little is known about how warning pictograms (e.g., "do not drive after taking") on medication packages influence patients' information-seeking strategies such as consulting the package insert (PI) to determine other features such as the correct dosage. In this online study, participants (358 students) were presented with three fictitious scenarios (e.g., headache after alcohol consumption; factor scenario) in which medication use would be contraindicated. Each scenario was accompanied by a visual presentation of a medication package that could contain three possible pictogram selections or arrangements (factor warning); some arrangements contained pictograms relevant to the situation represented by the scenario, while others did not. Participants had to decide which dosage of the represented medication they were allowed to take in the given scenario. In making this decision, they could consult the PI or not. Overall, in two out of the three scenarios (driving and pregnancy), medication packages with relevant pictograms resulted in fewer PI consultations but led to more correct dosage decisions ("no pill") than packages with irrelevant pictograms. Pictograms generally played no role in either the review of the PI consultation or dosage decisions in the alcohol scenario. Providing warning-relevant pictograms on medication packages can help people know when they should not take medication even without reading the PI.

Information processing likelihood, eHealth literacy, and complexity of seeking strategies as predictors of health decision-making quality

eHEALS is one of the most prevalent scales used to measure eHealth literacy. However, significant criticism toward its conceptualization had raised. This study tests the effects of eHEALS alongside constructs from the elaboration likelihood model and information seeking processes, within a multidimensional model to predict medical decision-making quality. We test this model using a sample of 56 participants who completed a 45-minute online simulation task, requiring them to offer recommendation for a hypothetical medical scenario. Findings revealed that neither eHealth literacy nor elaboration likelihood independently predicted decision quality. However, eHEALS was positively associated with higher decision quality, but only among participants who had greater motivation and ability to process health information, and who used more complex information seeking strategies. Findings suggest that the eHEALS measure can be examined using a multidimensional theoretical approach to illustrate the ways in which patients obtain and utilize health information to make informed decisions.

Locked inside: Living with uncertainty in self-management for endometriosis during the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectiveA high symptom burden systemic inflammatory disorder, endometriosis typically entails both medical management and self-management strategies. The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia precipitated changes to healthcare provision, societal restrictions, and negative psychosocial outcomes particularly for those managing chronic illnesses (e.g., endometriosis). This study's objective was to address the following questions: “How have endometriosis self-management strategies changed since the outbreak of COVID-19, and what are the consequences of these changes?” MethodsIn total, 21 respondents residing in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic participated in a semi-structured interview following completion of an online survey advertised by Endometriosis Australia. In the survey, respondents provided demographic and clinical information, and psychological distress was assessed. Interviews were conducted online and recorded for transcribing. Transcribed data were thematically analyzed using the template method. ResultsQualitative analysis identified five themes: i) Maintaining Relationships with Health Professionals, ii) Altered Information Seeking Strategies, iii) More Autonomous Decision Making, iv) Diminished Self-Care and Behaviour Change, and v) Shifted Priorities. Respondents reported disruptions to, and uncertainties within, the healthcare system that precipitated adverse effects upon their ability to manage endometriosis and mental health. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that for many, COVID-19-related disruptions to the healthcare system and social isolation adversely impacted their endometriosis self-management. Targeted interventions are needed to address the consequences of these, including providing reliable information to support informed decision-making regarding endometriosis self-management, and assisting with mental health challenges arising from COVID-19-related social isolation.

Communicative Processes Underlying DIY eJuice Mixing Among Young Adult International ENDS Users

ABSTRACT The use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is increasing around the world, with contemporary trends outpacing scientific understanding of the health implications. Such trends include do-it-yourself eJuice mixing (DIY eJuice), which involves the unregulated homemade mixing of fogging agents, nicotine salts, and flavorants to create personalized liquid for ENDS products. The purpose of this study was to employ a grounded theory approach to gather formative data on the communicative processes surrounding the behavior of DIY eJuice mixing among international, young adult ENDS users. Participants were recruited locally for mini focus group discussions via SONA (n = 4) and internationally for an open-ended survey via Prolific (n = 138). Questions explored experiences with the online DIY eJuice community, motivations for mixing, information seeking strategies, flavor preferences, and perceived benefits of mixing. Thematic analysis and flow sketching revealed the underlying processes of social cognitive theory to explain the communicative processes of DIY eJuice mixing behaviors. Specifically, environmental determinants emerged in the form of online and social influences; personal determinants in the form of curiosity and control; and behavioral determinants following a benefits/barriers analysis, particularly regarding cost. These findings provide theoretical implications for the role of health communication constructs in understanding contemporary trends in ENDS use and practical implications for tobacco prevention messaging and tobacco control regulations.

Implementation of Smartphone Media on Information Search Strategy in PAI Learning Class XI SMA Negeri 1 Pangkalpinang

The observations for this problem were conducted in class XI of SMA Negeri 1 Pangkalpinang. Contemporary educators continue to employ conventional instructional methods in the present day. Due to a lack of alignment between educators' tactics and the information being taught, students encounter difficulties in comprehending the subject matter. This paper addresses two issues: (1) optimizing the utilization of smartphone media for information retrieval strategies in PAI learning among XI grade students at SMA Negeri 1 Pangkalpinang; and (2) identifying the factors that impede the effective use of smartphone media for information retrieval strategies in PAI learning among XI grade students at SMA Negeri 1 Pangkalpinang. This qualitative research methodology entailed conducting interviews with the principal, teachers specializing in PAI, and grade XI students at SMA Negeri 1 Pangkalpinang. The study also investigated the utilization of smartphone media to optimize the implementation of information-seeking strategies in PAI learning for 11th-grade students. The study also employed pertinent data and papers. The findings indicated that utilizing cellphones to optimize knowledge retrieval strategies in PAI learning at SMA Negeri 1 Pangkalpinang proved to be a viable approach for instructors to develop learning strategies that align with students' expectations. Nevertheless, students frequently misuse smartphones, particularly by developing an addiction to gaming and perhaps failing to utilize them appropriately.

“One size” doesn't “fit all”: Understanding variability in anesthesia work practices

ObjectivesThis work examines the variability in how different anesthesia providers approach patient care to provide insight into the source and necessity of variations in practice, the implications of different individual preferences, and the subsequent consequences on approaches to safety that emphasize standardization. MethodsVignette-based interviews were performed with 18 anesthesia providers to elicit the cognitive processes and strategies that they utilize as they progress through a case. A qualitative data analysis of the transcripts was performed to illuminate the variability in their processes of managing the case. ResultsParticipants employed converging strategies consistent with prior literature. However, divergence occurs in the application of those strategies; there is variability in participants’ information seeking strategies, problem anticipation, and resulting actions. In some instances, this divergence was minor, representing natural preferences that would inevitably converge in the management of the case. In other instances, this divergence represented major deviations that would not converge throughout the management of the case. ConclusionsThe differences in how anesthesia providers approach their work, as identified in this study, call into question whether ‘standardization’ is always the best approach to improve safety in anesthesia. Whatever the cause of variations in individual strategies, when developing new approaches, the variability in anesthesia information seeking, goal setting and anticipation needs to be reflected in policies, practices, protocols, and training. This work reinforces the idea that it is the humans in the system, with their flexibility and expertise, who are the primary source of everyday safety.

An Inquiry into Information Literacy (IL) Skills among Public University Students: A Developing Country Perspective

The main purpose of this paper is to explore the Information Literacy (IL) skills among the students of Business faculty students at University of Dhaka (DU). The more specific objectives of the study are to identify the strength and weakness of its IL programs and to provide some suitable recommendations to enhance the business faculty student’s IL skills. The study employed descriptive research, applying a questionnaire-based survey. A total of 350 questionnaires were distributed randomly, of which 253 were returned and used for the analysis. The results of the study reveal that there are considerable differences in IL skills among the faculty students. Most students are not able to answer relevant questions correctly. There were great differences in IL skills among students. It was found that a majority of students lacked skills in catalogue searching and information use, selection of e-resources, formulation of search and information seeking strategies, and even about proper procedures of borrowing books from the library. However, most respondents agreed that IL is essential in their academic work and research.

It's Still Rock and Roll to Me: A Model of Online Browsing Behaviour

ABSTRACTBrowsing has long been acknowledged as a critical information seeking strategy. Previous research on information browsing—browsing for books, videos or other items for which decisions have to be made based on an information surrogate—has focused on browsing in a physical context, and much of it predates technology found online today. We lack empirical data from the contemporary digital context to describe how people browse online. This study adopted scenario‐based interviews and observations to investigate people's online information browsing behaviour. Based on a qualitative analysis of the data, we proposed an online browsing journey model formed by four iterative activities: Choose the Browsing Collection, Select Candidates from the Browsing Collection, Inspect the Selected Candidates, Generate and Edit the Candidate list. This model offers novel insight into how people browse in the existing online context, which also forms the basis for further online browsing research.

The Human Need for Equilibrium: Qualitative Study on the Ingenuity, Technical Competency, and Changing Strategies of People With Dementia Seeking Health Information.

BackgroundPrior research on health information behaviors of people with dementia has primarily focused on examining the types of information exchanged by people with dementia using various web-based platforms. A previous study investigated the information behaviors of people with dementia within a month of their diagnosis. There is an empirical gap in the literature regarding the evolution of health information needs and behaviors of people with dementia as their condition progresses.ObjectiveOur work primarily investigated the information behaviors of people with dementia who have been living with the condition for several (4 to 26) years. We also aimed to identify their motivations for changing their information behaviors over time. Our primary research questions were as follows: how do people with dementia get informed about their condition, and why do people with dementia seek information about their condition?MethodsWe adopted an action research approach by including 2 people with dementia as members of our research team. Collaboratively, we conducted 16 remote 1-hour contextual inquiry sessions with people living with mild to moderate dementia. During the study sessions, the first 40 minutes included semistructured interviews with participants concerning their information behaviors, followed by a 20-minute demonstration of their information-seeking strategies. Data from these interviews were analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory approach.ResultsParticipants described their information needs in terms of managing the disrupted physiological, emotional, and social aspects of their lives following a diagnosis of dementia. They used various information behaviors, including active search, ongoing search, monitoring, proxy search, information avoidance, and selective exposure. These information behaviors were not stagnant; however, they were adapted to accommodate the changing circumstances of their dementia and their lives as they worked to re-establish equilibrium to continue to engage in life while living with a degenerative neurological condition.ConclusionsOur research revealed the motivations, changing abilities, and chosen strategies of people with dementia in their search for information as their condition evolves. This knowledge can be used to develop and improve person-centered information and support services for people with dementia so that they can more easily re-establish equilibrium and continue to engage in life.