Online Sources For Health Information Research Articles

UNCOVERING UNIQUE NEEDS AND BARRIERS TO CARE AMONG LGBTQ+ PATIENTS WITH IBD: INSIGHTS FROM A COMMUNITY SURVEY TO INFORM INCLUSIVE PRACTICES

Abstract INTRODUCTION Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals face a myriad of disparities and unique challenges that impact their clinical care and outcomes, however, less is known regarding the specific needs of sexual and gender minorities with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: The aim of this study was to better understand the unmet needs and potential barriers to care that LGBTQ+ persons with IBD experience. A survey was disseminated in March 2023 via email distribution by Girls with Guts and the AIDS Institute to individuals with IBD who identify as LGBTQ+. The data was analyzed with descriptive analysis with frequencies and percentages (%). Results: A total of 217 people completed the survey, including 165 cisgender, 34 transgender, and 18 gender nonbinary individuals with IBD. The majority of respondents identified as lesbian or gay (56%) or bisexual (27%), and most reported an IBD diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease (61%). Most indicated their IBD care team was aware of their gender identity (76%) and sexual orientation (75%), either through direct discussions or being asked on medical forms, however nearly half report that they sometimes to very frequently delay seeking IBD care (49%) or refrain from sharing information with their IBD care team (63%) because of worry or fear of mistreatment or judgement (Figure 1). Only 37% of individuals agreed their IBD care team meets their unique needs as an LGBTQ+ person, and respondents reported most commonly turning to online sources of health information (55%) and other members of the LGBTQ+ community (42%) rather than their IBD care team (26%) for information on IBD as it relates to their gender, sexual orientation, and/or sexual practices. Overall, respondents most frequently cited worry about judgement or mistreatment (40%) as a barrier to discussing sexual orientation and gender identify (SOGI) with their IBD care team, however, this concern was more frequently reported by transgender (65%) and gender nonbinary (72%) individuals than cisgender persons (33%) (Figure 2). Nearly half (46%) agreed the clinic where they receive their IBD care could be described as LGBTQ+ safe and inclusive, however, this percentage varied by location, with individuals living in small towns or rural areas expressing more disagreement. Overall, respondents identified their IBD care teams could most improve by becoming more knowledgeable in LGBTQ+ concerns related to IBD (46%), initiating conversations related to SOGI and sexual practices (30%), and displaying visible signs of LGBTQ+ acceptance (29%). CONCLUSION Collectively, these data provide insight into the unique challenges and needs of LGBTQ+ individuals with IBD and may be used to inform strategies that support equitable IBD care. Future studies should focus on the impact of such strategies on IBD-related outcomes.

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

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

The Impact of the Online COVID-19 Infodemic on French Red Cross Actors’ Field Engagement and Protective Behaviors: Mixed Methods Study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has been widely described as an infodemic, an excess of rapidly circulating information in social and traditional media in which some information may be erroneous, contradictory, or inaccurate. One key theme cutting across many infodemic analyses is that it stymies users’ capacities to identify appropriate information and guidelines, encourages them to take inappropriate or even harmful actions, and should be managed through multiple transdisciplinary approaches. Yet, investigations demonstrating how the COVID-19 information ecosystem influences complex public decision making and behavior offline are relatively few.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate whether information reported through the social media channel Twitter, linked articles and websites, and selected traditional media affected the risk perception, engagement in field activities, and protective behaviors of French Red Cross (FRC) volunteers and health workers in the Paris region of France from June to October 2020.MethodsWe used a hybrid approach that blended online and offline data. We tracked daily Twitter discussions and selected traditional media in France for 7 months, qualitatively evaluating COVID-19 claims and debates about nonpharmaceutical protective measures. We conducted 24 semistructured interviews with FRC workers and volunteers.ResultsSocial and traditional media debates about viral risks and nonpharmaceutical interventions fanned anxieties among FRC volunteers and workers. Decisions to continue conducting FRC field activities and daily protective practices were also influenced by other factors unrelated to the infodemic: familial and social obligations, gender expectations, financial pressures, FRC rules and communications, state regulations, and relationships with coworkers. Some respondents developed strategies for “tuning out” social and traditional media.ConclusionsThis study suggests that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the information ecosystem may be just one among multiple influences on one group’s offline perceptions and behavior. Measures to address users who have disengaged from online sources of health information and who rely on social relationships to obtain information are needed. Tuning out can potentially lead to less informed decision making, leading to worse health outcomes.

Afflexivity in post-qualitative inquiry: prioritising affect and reflexivity in the evaluation of a health information website

ABSTRACT Increasingly, people turn to online sources for health information, creating human-non-human relationalities. Health websites are considered accessible in scope and convenience but can have limited capacity to accommodate complexities. There are concerns about who gets to ‘assemble’ with these resources, and who is excluded. Guided by Ahmed’s socio-political theories of emotions, we questioned our feelings as we intra-acted with a consumer information website about back pain (MyBackPain). This encouraged us to approach resource evaluation in a way that alters conventional rational/cognitive judgement processes. Our inquiry was ‘supra-disciplinary’ involving public health, sociology, allied health and consumer collaborators. Specifically, we considered relationality – the feelings circulating between bodies/objects and implicated in MyBackPain’s affective practices; impressions – the marks, images or beliefs MyBackPain makes on bodies/objects; and directionality – how these intra-actions pushed in some directions and away from others. Although Ahmed would likely not consider herself ‘post-humanist’, we argue that her socio-political theories of how objects and emotions entangle are of great interest to furthering critical post-human understandings of health. Rather than threatening decision-making, we suggest that feelings (and their affects) are central to it. The article demonstrates the productive potential of critical post-human inquiry in identifying/countering ‘othering’ possibilities, and catalysing a ‘nomadic shift’ towards new human-non-human formations.

I Read It Online: Understanding How Undergraduate Students Assess the Accuracy of Online Sources of Health Information.

Online sources of health information are a significant means by which the public educates itself about health and wellness. The purpose of this study is to investigate how undergraduate students evaluate and assess health-related websites for accuracy, as well as the self-reported factors used in identifying whether a website is an accurate source of information. One hundred and fifty-seven students participated by reviewing a series of 10 health-related websites and indicated whether they believed the website to be an accurate source of health information. Students completed an open-ended question to self-report how they made this determination. Results indicate that students were not able to accurately distinguish between credible sources of web-based health information and those sources that were previously categorized as not being credible sources. Analysis of self-reported qualitative feedback gave rise to 6 factors used to determine the accuracy of the websites reviewed. While students report using these factors, and these factors are consistent with previous research, this does not appear then to be translating to successful determination of a source's accuracy. Educating students in proper fact-checking and evaluation skills may be warranted to develop a generation of individuals who can be said to have better health literacy.

Effects of Objective and Subjective Health Literacy on Patients' Accurate Judgment of Health Information and Decision-Making Ability: Survey Study.

BackgroundInterpreting health information and acquiring health knowledge have become more important with the accumulation of scientific medical knowledge and ideals of patient autonomy. Health literacy and its tremendous success as a concept can be considered an admission that not all is well in the distribution of health knowledge. The internet makes health information much more easily accessible than ever, but it introduces its own problems, of which health disinformation is a major one.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine whether objective and subjective health literacy are independent concepts and to test which of the two was associated more strongly with accurate judgments of the quality of a medical website and with behavioral intentions beneficial to health.MethodsA survey on depression and its treatments was conducted online (n=362). The Newest Vital Sign was employed to measure objective, performance-based health literacy, and the eHealth Literacy Scale was used to measure subjective, perception-based health literacy. Correlations, comparisons of means, linear and binary logistic regression, and mediation models were used to determine the associations.ResultsObjective and subjective health literacy were weakly associated with one another (r=0.06, P=.24). High objective health literacy levels were associated with an inclination to behave in ways that are beneficial to one’s own or others’ health (Exp[B]=2.068, P=.004) and an ability to recognize low-quality online sources of health information (β=–.4698, P=.005). The recognition also improved participants’ choice of treatment (β=–.3345, P<.001). Objective health literacy helped people to recognize misinformation on health websites and improved their judgment on their treatment for depression.ConclusionsSelf-reported, perception-based health literacy should be treated as a separate concept from objective, performance-based health literacy. Only objective health literacy appears to have the potential to prevent people from becoming victims of health disinformation.

Online Health Information-Seeking Among Older Women With Chronic Illness: Analysis of the Women's Health Initiative.

BackgroundUnderstanding how older patients with chronic illnesses use the internet to obtain health information is relevant for the design of digital interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of adults aged 65 years and older; this cohort represents the sickest, most expensive, and fastest-growing segment of the US population.ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to describe online health information–seeking behavior among older patients with chronic illnesses and to compare the characteristics of patients who report using the internet to obtain health information with those who do not.MethodsThe study population included 72,806 women aged 65 years and older enrolled in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a national cohort study, who completed a 2014 supplemental questionnaire assessing everyday technology use and internet use for researching health conditions. Comparisons were made between participants with and without a history of chronic illness and between users and nonusers of online sources for health information. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs.ResultsOf the total, 59% (42,887/72,806) of older women used the internet for health information. Compared with women who did not use the internet to obtain health information, those who used the internet were younger (median age: 76 vs 81 years), more likely to be non-Hispanic white (90% [38,481/42,887] vs 87% [26,017/29,919]), earned a higher income (over $US 50,000: 55% [23,410/42,887] vs 33% [9991/29,919]), achieved a higher educational level (more than high school: 87% [37,493/42,887] vs 75% [22,377/29,919]), and were more likely to live with a partner (52% [22,457/42,887] vs 36% [10,759/29,919]) (all P<.001). Women with Alzheimer disease were least likely to report online health information–seeking compared to those without the disease (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.38-0.43). In contrast, women with a recent diagnosis of cancer, within the previous 2 years (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.11-1.36) or 2-5 years ago (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.00-1.19), were most likely to use the internet for health information.ConclusionsNearly 6 in 10 older women participating in the WHI reported using the internet to obtain health information. Patients recently diagnosed with cancer are more likely to be looking for health information online, even after adjustment for age, suggesting that these patients may have a greater need for digital health resources.

Prevalence, Prevention and Treatment of Saddle Sores among Female Competitive Cyclists: A Scoping Review Protocol.

Female cyclists are prone to a variety of injuries and illnesses that occur as a result of prolonged contact with a bicycle saddle. Saddle sores are a range of skin ailments on the buttocks, genitals and inner thigh that result from a combination of friction, heat, pressure, moisture and bacteria in the saddle area. Whilst saddle sores are reportedly common, for some cyclists, the condition may cause only mild discomfort. However, for female competitive cyclists, the condition can be an ongoing source of pain and illness affecting participation and performance in the sport. Despite many online sources for health information and products for saddle sores, it is unknown what empirical evidence exists for the prevalence and severity of saddle sores, and for the effectiveness of prevention and treatment methods. This paper outlines the protocol for a scoping review, which aims to describe the empirical evidence for the prevalence, prevention and treatment of saddle sores among female competitive cyclists. Ethics approval has been obtained for this study from Curtin University’s Human Research Ethics Committee no: HRE2019-0120. The findings from this study will contribute to the literature for injury in female sport.

It takes a community to conceive: an analysis of the scope, nature and accuracy of online sources of health information for couples trying to conceive.

This study examined the nature and accuracy of information available across online platforms for couples trying to conceive. A consumer simulation-based investigation of English websites and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) was undertaken using common search terms identified in a pilot study. Claims about fertility and pregnancy health were then extracted from the results and analysed thematically. The accuracy of each claim was assessed independently by six fertility and conception experts, rated on a scale of 1 (not factual) to 4 (highly factual), with scores collated to produce a median rating. Claims with a median score < 3 were classified as inaccurate. The use of the terms 'trying to conceive' and '#TTC' were common identifiers on online platforms. Claims were extracted predominantly from websites (n = 89) rather than social media, with Twitter and Instagram comprising commercial elements and Facebook focused on community-based support. Thematic analysis revealed three major themes among the claims across all platforms: conception behaviour and monitoring, lifestyle and exposures, and medical. Fact-checking by the experts revealed that 40% of the information assessed was inaccurate, and that inaccuracies were more likely to be present in the conception behaviour and monitoring advice, the topics most amenable to modification. Since online information is a readily accessible and commonly utilized resource, there is opportunity for improved dissemination of evidence-based material to reach interested couples. Further cross-disciplinary and consumer-based research, such as a user survey, is required to understand how best to provide the 'trying to conceive' community with accurate information.

Who can you trust? A review of free online sources of \u201ctrustworthy\u201d information about treatment effects for patients and the public

BackgroundInformation about effects of treatments based on unsystematic reviews of research evidence may be misleading. However, finding trustworthy information about the effects of treatments based on systematic reviews, which is accessible to patients and the public can be difficult. The objectives of this study were to identify and evaluate free sources of health information for patients and the public that provide information about effects of treatments based on systematic reviews.MethodsWe reviewed websites that we and our colleagues knew of, searched for government sponsored health information websites, and searched for online sources of health information that provide evidence-based information. To be included in our review, a website had to be available in English, freely accessible, and intended for patients and the public. In addition, it had to have a broad scope, not limited to specific conditions or types of treatments. It had to include a description of how the information is prepared and the description had to include a statement about using systematic reviews. We compared the included websites by searching for information about the effects of eight treatments.ResultsThree websites met our inclusion criteria: Cochrane Evidence, Informed Health, and PubMed Health. The first two websites produce content, whereas PubMed Health aggregated content. A fourth website that met our inclusion criteria, CureFacts, was under development. Cochrane Evidence provides plain language summaries of Cochrane Reviews (i.e. summaries that are intended for patients and the public). They are translated to several other languages. No information besides treatment effects is provided. Informed Health provides information about treatment effects together with other information for a wide range of topics. PubMed Health was discontinued in October 2018. It included a large number of systematic reviews of treatment effects with plain language summaries for Cochrane Reviews and some other reviews. None of the three websites included links to ongoing trials, and information about treatment effects was not reported consistently on any of the websites.ConclusionIt is possible for patients and the public to access trustworthy information about the effects of treatments using the two of the websites included in this review.

Preference for laboratory test results notification among different healthcare players in Northeastern Bulgaria

Introduction As continuously growing number of people is using online sources for health information and services, the concept of e Health is progressively developing and is a high-priority topic for the European Union. The absence of centralized internet-based e Health platform in Bulgaria results in deficiency in the information exchange among physicians and other healthcare providers. The question about the readiness and the attitude towards e Health concept among all participants in the health care system in Bulgaria still remains to be clarified and the purpose of the current study is to assess the opinion of health care providers and consumers about the electronic way of receiving laboratory test results. We also try to explore the existing preference trend in relation to the socio-demographic characteristics of the studied population. Material and methods In the current work, we investigated the needs and recommendations of 1039 patients, laboratory stuff and out-of-hospital general practitioners in the Northeastern Bulgaria (regions Varna, Dobrich and Shumen). Results The results show that laboratory results are preferred in electronic form and there is a significant need for better online communication between different participants in the healthcare system. In this context, we also summarize a model for improvement in the interaction among healthcare providers. Conclusion The actual opportunities for online communication provoke active participation of all players in the health service market and require a novel model of communication among healthcare providers.

The influence of individual differences on consumer's selection of online sources for health information

Online sources for health information are becoming increasingly diverse, and these sources impact healthcare decision making. However, little is known about the factors influencing people's selection of online sources. Using the survey method, this study investigated how the individual characteristics of users influence their selection of five internet sources (search engines, social Q&A sites, online health communities (OHCs), social networking sites (SNSs), and crowdsourcing sites), for three distinct types of health search tasks (factual, exploratory, and personal experience). We found that individuals' source experience consistently predicted the selection of the four established sources (search engines, social Q&A sites, OHCs, and SNSs) for all types of tasks, whereas the selection of the comparatively new source, crowdsourcing sites, for all task types, was consistently predicted by race and preference for information. Health literacy was positively associated with the selection of search engines for all three types of search tasks, the selection of social Q&A sites for personal experience tasks, and the selection of OHCs for both exploratory and personal experience search tasks. Individuals with better health status were more likely to use SNSs for factual tasks. We also found some influence of personality. The findings suggest a need for interventions to reduce the divides in information access among user groups and for the development of technological innovations to tailor information delivery based on individual differences.

What predicts the trust of online health information?

OBJECTIVES:Little attention has been paid to levels of trust in online sources of health information. The objective of this study was to investigate levels of trust in various sources of health information (interpersonal channels, traditional media, and Internet media), and to examine the predictors of trust in health information available on the Internet.METHODS:A questionnaire was administered to 1,300 people (20 years of age or older), evaluating levels of trust in various sources of health information.RESULTS:The highest level of trust was expressed regarding interpersonal channels, with hospital physicians regarded as the most trusted source of information age and income showed an association with trust in online information sources. Elderly people were not likely to trust Internet news sources, and high incomes were found to be strongly associated with trust in online sources of information overall.CONCLUSIONS:Public health organizations must consider the predictors for trust in various sources of information in order to employ appropriate media when targeting vulnerable individuals or developing messaging strategies for health professionals.

In Search of Quality Health Information

WHY THIS DEPARTMENT? Ninety percent of individuals expect their health professional to refer them to reliable online sources for health information (Health on the Net Foundation [HON], 2005). Respondents reported that online health information improved both their knowledge and the quality of communication with their health professional. The editors of JPHC determined that a column dedicated to online educational and informational resources would help pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) guide children and their families to reliable health resources on the Web. On the Web will be published three times a year as a 1to 2-page column in the Online Only Content section of the JPHC. It will be interactive and link to reliable health information

Trusted online sources of health information: differences in demographics, health beliefs, and health-information orientation.

BackgroundThe recent surge in online health information and consumer use of such information has led to expert speculations and prescriptions about the credibility of health information on the World Wide Web. In spite of the growing concern over online health information sources, existing research reveals a lacuna in the realm of consumer evaluations of trustworthiness of different health information sources on the Internet.ObjectiveThis study examines consumer evaluation of sources of health information on the World Wide Web, comparing the demographic, attitudinal, and cognitive differences between individuals that most trust a particular source of information and individuals that do not trust the specific source of health information. Comparisons are made across a variety of sources.MethodsThe Porter Novelli HealthStyles database, collected annually since 1995, is based on the results of nationally-representative postal-mail surveys. In 1999, 2636 respondents provided usable data for the HealthStyles database. Independent sample t tests were conducted to compare the respondents in the realm of demographic, attitudinal, and cognitive variables.ResultsThe most trusted sources of online health information included the personal doctor, medical university, and federal government. The results demonstrated significant differences in demographic and health-oriented variables when respondents who trusted a particular online source were compared with respondents that did not trust the source, suggesting the need for a segmented approach to research and application. Individuals trusting the local doctor were younger ( t 2634= 4.02, P< .001) and held stronger health beliefs (F 1= 5.65, P= .018); individuals trusting the local hospital were less educated ( t 2634= 3.83, P< .001), low health information oriented (F 1= 6.41, P= .011), and held weaker health beliefs (F 1= 5.56, P= .018). Respondents with greater trust in health insurance companies as online health information sources were less educated ( t 2634= 1.90, P= .05) and less health information oriented (F 1= 4.30, P= .04). Trust in medical universities was positively associated with education ( t 2634= 11.83, P< .001), income ( t 2634= 10.19, P< .001), and health information orientation (F 1= 10.32, P<.001). Similar results were observed in the realm of federal information credibility, with individuals with greater trust in federal sources being more educated ( t 2634= 7.45, P< .001) and health information oriented (F 1= 4.45, P= .04) than their counterparts.ConclusionsThe results suggest systematic differences in the consumer segment based on the different sources of health information trusted by the consumer. While certain sources such as the local hospital and the health insurance company might serve as credible sources of health information for the lower socioeconomic and less health-oriented consumer segment, sources such as medical universities and federal Web sites might serve as trustworthy sources for the higher socioeconomic and more health-oriented groups.