Use Of Internet For Information Research Articles

A study on the long-term effects and mechanisms of internet information behavior on poverty alleviation among smallholder farmers: Evidence from China

China has historically accomplished the task of eradicating absolute poverty, however, as a result of multiple external constraints and a lack of their own endogenous motivation, there is a general lack of viability among farmers who have been lifted out of poverty, with some of those who have been lifted out of poverty at risk of returning to poverty and marginalized populations at risk of becoming poor, and there are certain challenges to the longevity and stability of the poverty eradication of smallholder farmers. In the era of rapid development of information technology, the use of Internet information has become an important way to change the information asymmetry in rural areas, narrow the urban-rural digital divide and reduce the vulnerability of poverty at present. Based on this, this paper puts forward the corresponding research hypotheses on the theoretical basis of how Internet information behavior affects the long-term effects of poverty alleviation of smallholder farmers, and this paper is based on the empirical analysis of the household survey data of 240 smallholder farmers in 3 cities and 3 counties of H Province, in an attempt to explore empirical testing of the impact of Internet information behavior on the long-term effects of poverty alleviation of smallholder farmers, and to further reveal the intrinsic mechanism of the role of the internal mechanism of the transformation between the smallholder farmers' Internet information behavior and poverty alleviation of the long-term effects of poverty alleviation. This study found that (1) Internet information usage would be positively related to the long-term poverty alleviation of smallholder farmers; (2) Among the mechanisms of Internet information usage on the long-term poverty alleviation of smallholder farmers, agricultural income opportunities, employment opportunities and entrepreneurial business opportunities have significant mediating effects; (3) Formal social support and informal social support, all play a significant positive moderating role in the process of transformation of development opportunities carried out by smallholder farmers. The findings of the study have important practical implications for accelerating the poverty alleviation effect of the Internet and achieving sustainable poverty alleviation among small farmers to promote common prosperity.

Examining the relationship between health literacy and individual and sociodemographic factors in secondary school students.

Health literacy (HL) is an important factor in health promotion, especially regarding children and adolescents. The present study aims to identify the individual and sociodemographic factors related to secondary school students' HL. This should make it possible to find specific strategies to improve HL. Data on the sociodemographic background (migrant background, number of books at home and spoken language at home), self-efficacy, online reading behaviour, subjective HL (adapted version of the European Health Literacy [HLS-EU] questionnaire) and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) of 544 Austrian secondary school students (age 11-16, 46% girls) were collected. Regression analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses regarding those factors which influence students' subjective HL and eHL. Students subjective HL (M = 3.79, SD = .63) and eHL (M = 3.46, SD = .77) scores were rather high on average. Subjective HL was predicted by age, gender and online reading behaviour. However, only students' online reading behaviour was highly significant and was found to be the most influential predictor of subjective HL. Age and online reading behaviour were also found to be highly significant predictors regarding eHL. Students' online reading behaviour and age are important factors linked to HL. Educational activities may serve to reduce health inequalities by fostering relevant internet skills, i.e. the skills needed to facilitate effective and critical use of internet information.

Information Needs, Search Behaviours, and Use of Elementary School Teachers on the Internet

This paper discusses Internet-related information behaviours of elementary school teachers in Taiwan, investigating their information needs, seeking behaviors, and use within an educational context. This study places an emphasis on investigating both work and non-work related use of Internet information by elementary school teachers. Research participants responded to a questionnaire on their internet search behaviours. In-depth interviews of 30 respondents were then performed. Results show that the boundary between work and non-work related use of the Internet is blurring. Participating elementary school teachers in Taiwan use the Internet for many tasks, and there are several technical and personal barriers to overcome before the technology can be fully utilized in the daily activities of educators.

Combining patient talk about internet use during primary care consultations with retrospective accounts. A qualitative analysis of interactional and interview data.

Despite widespread acknowledgement of internet use for information about health, patients report not disclosing use of online health information in consultations. This paper compares patients' reported use of the internet with matched video recordings of consultations. The concepts of doctorability and epistemics are employed to consider similarities and differences between patients’ reports in interviews and actions in the consultation. Data are drawn from the Harnessing Resources from the Internet study conducted in the UK. The data set consists of 281 video-recorded general practice consultations, with pre-consultation questionnaires completed by all patients, interviews with all 10 participating doctors and 28 selected patients. We focus on the 28 patient interviews and associated consultation recordings. A conversation analytic (CA) approach is used to systematically inspect both the interview and consultation data. In interviews patients presented use of the internet as associated with appropriate self-management and help-seeking. In consultations patients skilfully translated what they had found on the internet in order to provide grounds for the actions they sought. We conclude that patients translate and utilise what they have found on the internet to assert the doctorability of their presenting problems. Furthermore, patients design their talk in both interviews and consultations to accord with their understanding of the epistemic rights of both doctors and patients. Patients search the internet so they are informed about their medical problem, however they carefully manage disclosure of information to avoid disrupting the smooth running of medical interactions.

Embedded Information Problem-Solving Instruction to Foster Learning from Digital Sources: Longitudinal Effects on Task Performance

This research paper is based on a longitudinal study to find out how long-term embedded whole-task instruction can help students to develop more efficient information problem-solving (IPS) skills that could lead to a better use of internet information for learning and solving digital tasks more effectively. To this end, we designed, implemented and evaluated a three-year instruction programme to promote students’ development of key IPS skills in real-life classroom settings. This research involved sixty-one secondary education students. Forty-two of them received the IPS instruction and their results were analysed longitudinally and subsequently compared to a control group which received the regular courses. The results showed that students who received the IPS instruction improved their performance significantly in tasks in which the use of IPS skills was needed and these students organised and presented the information found on the internet critically and gave personal arguments. The findings also revealed that during the three-year project, the scores of IPS task performance were statistically higher in the instructed students than those obtained in control group students. Our study then provides an insight into how secondary students develop IPS skills throughout long-term instructional support and shows a series of educational implications.

Shaping Baby Buddy Cyprus: eHealth literacy for the transition to parenthood

Abstract Issue The transition to parenthood presents opportunities to promote mother-child health. Though of varying quality, internet information-seeking is prevalent while attendance in antenatal classes is low. Digital innovation can support access to timely and valid information for all, key component of WHO's Respectful Maternity Care. Description of the problem ”Baby Buddy Forward” assessed the cross-national transferability of the innovative Baby Buddy (UK) healthy pregnancy and early parenthood app to the medicalized and decentralized birth environment in Cyprus. Within a Participatory Action Research (PAR) framework, formative qualitative and quantitative methods were employed to engage with the professional and mums-to-be community and deliver a locally relevant resource to enhance user-provider communication and shared decision-making. Results We (a) assessed available resources in a structured quantitative and qualitative rating exercise, (b) identified gaps and priorities in an eDelphi survey (N = 275 mums and 193 professionals, re-rated at annual Midwifery conference), (c) gained in-depth understanding of information-seeking behaviours in a series of focus groups with a diverse set of mums-to-be (N = 100) and (d) explored perceptions about the use of internet for information in pregnancy and the quality of communication with professionals in a questionnaire survey (N = 200). New health communication material was co-created with participants and an intervention for embedding the tool in clinical practice was proposed within the COM-B behavioural change framework. Lessons In a “changing landscape” of antenatal education, Baby Buddy functions as “proof of concept” for cross-national innovation exchange. Beyond a learning experience, the use of PAR provided ground for building transdisciplinary alliances and creating a public health digital resource to enhance the health literacy of new parents and support the educational role of maternal and child health professionals. Key messages Digital resources can reduce social disparities, enrich the user-provider exchange and support the educational role of professionals. PAR provides a framework for co-creation and sense of common purpose.

Racial/ethnicity differences when endorsing influential factors for prostate cancer treatment choice: An analysis of data from the personal patient profile-prostate (P3P) I and II trials.

351 Background: Race and ethnicity impact the type of treatment received for localized prostate cancer in American men. We hypothesized that there may be differences in men’s influential values and preferences related to treatment decisions. Methods: We analyzed samples from two multicenter, randomized trials of the Patient Profile-Prostate (P3P) decision aid, first comparing the trial groups on demographic and decisional variables using Chi-square tests. Stratified (P3P I vs II) logistic regression was then used to assess the univariate association between race/ethnicity and endorsement of moderate-or-strong influence of 14 lifestyle factors, current or future symptoms, or important others on the decision. A multivariable stratified logistic regression with backward variable selection was used to further estimate the association between influential factors and race/ethnicity. Results: Data from 494 and 392 participants in P3PI and P3PII, respectively, were analyzed for 40 Hispanic, 168 non-Hispanic black, 637 non-Hispanic white, 19 others and 6 missing. Age (p=.0001), education (p<.0001), marital status (p<.0001), income (p<.0001), Internet use for information (p<.0001) and decisional control preference were significantly different across racial/ethnic groups. In adjusted analyses, racial/ethnic differences existed for influence of age (Non Hispanic Black (NHB) vs. Non Hispanic White (NHW) OR: 0.56 95%CI 0.38-0.85p=.002), religion/spirituality (NHB vs. NHW OR: 3.2095%CI1.95-5.26, p<.0001), future bladder function (NHB vs. NHW OR: 0.5795%CI0.35-0.90, p=.04), future ability to engage in recreation (NHB vs. NHW OR: 0.5495%CI 0.34-0.86, p=0.02), and a story of a famous person with prostate cancer (NHB vs. NHW OR: 2,11 95%CI1.30-3.43, p=.007). Conclusions: Our results suggest racial/ethnic differences for influences underlying treatment choice. Better understanding these influences may help us present salient information about treatment options to patients and address disparities.

Racial/ethnicity differences in endorsing influential factors for prostate cancer treatment choice: An analysis of data from the personal patient profile-prostate (P3P) I and II trials

ObjectiveRates and choice of treatment for localized prostate cancer vary according to race/ethnicity in American men. We hypothesized that there were group differences in influential values and preferences related to treatment decisions. MethodsWe analyzed samples from 2 multicenter, randomized trials of the Patient Profile-Prostate (P3P) I and II decision aid, first comparing the groups on other demographic and decisional variables using Chi-square tests. Stratified (P3P I vs. II) logistic regression was then used to assess the univariate association between race/ethnicity and endorsement of moderate-or-strong influence of 14 lifestyle factors, current or future symptoms, or important others on the decision. A multivariable stratified logistic regression with backward variable selection was used to further estimate the association between influential factors and race/ethnicity. ResultsThere were 494 and 392 participants in P3P I and P3P II, respectively, with 40 Hispanic, 168 non-Hispanic black, 637 non-Hispanic white, 19 others and 6 missing. Age (P = 0.0001), education (P < 0.0001), marital status (P < 0.0001), income (P < 0.0001), Internet use for information (P < 0.0001) and decisional control preference were significantly different across racial/ethnic groups. In adjusted analyses, we saw racial/ethnic differences in the decisional influence of age (Non-Hispanic Black (NHB) vs. Non-Hispanic White (NHW) OR: 0.56 95%CI 0.38–0.85 P = 0.002), religion/spirituality (NHB vs. NHW OR: 3.2095%CI1.95–5.26, P < 0.0001), future bladder function (NHB vs. NHW OR: 0.5795%CI 0.35–0.90, P = 0.04), future ability to engage in recreation (NHB vs. NHW OR: 0.5495%CI 0.34–0.86, P = 0.02), and a story of a famous person with prostate cancer (NHB vs. NHW OR: 2,11 95%CI 1.30–3.43, P = 0.007). No interactions were found. ConclusionOur results suggest racial/ethnic differences for influences underlying treatment choice. Better understanding these influences may help us present salient information about treatment options to patients and address disparities.

The Janus-Face of Digitalization: The Relation Between Internet Use and Civic Engagement Reconsidered

Research on the influence of digital technology on civic engagement debates whether Internet use leads to the decline of civic engagement or enables new social contacts and exchanges. We argue that whether Internet use has positive or negative effects on our civic engagement depends on how we use the Internet: Social Internet use and Internet use for information strengthen civic engagement, while private Internet use and Internet use for entertainment erode civic engagement. Data from the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social sciences (LISS) Panel and the Swiss Household Panel (SHP) allow us to employ differentiated measures of Internet use. In particular, their panel structure helps diminish the endogeneity problems of cross-sectional studies. By employing an autoregressive cross-lagged panel design, we are able to disentangle the relation between Internet use and associational participation and estimate the causal effect between the two variables in both directions. Analyzing associational participation as a pivotal pillar of the civil society, we show that social Internet use for information, in particular exchanging e-mails, but also being active on social network sites in the SHP, increases the likelihood of becoming or remaining active in an organization. At the same time, we fail to find consistent and robust evidence for the negative effects of Internet use. However, the causal relation also works the other way round: Associational participation was shown to increase the time respondents spend with writing e-mails, leading to a virtuous circle, whereby online and off-line forms of social engagement complement and enhance each other.

The effect of students’ perceptions of Internet information quality on their use of Internet information in inquiry-based learning

&lt;p&gt;In Web 2.0 environments, the quality of published information can vary significantly and much of the information on the Internet is unproven. This unverified information hinders rather than facilitates student learning, especially among undergraduate students who depend heavily on Internet resources for their studies. Currently, we do not have clear understanding of how students assess information quality and how this process affects their learning. This study argues that students’ perceptions of Internet information quality influence their use of Internet information in their learning. The objectives of this research were to improve our understanding of how students evaluate Internet information by examining their perceptions of information quality and their use of information in learning, and to develop an information acceptance model that effectively measures and predicts students’ use of Internet information. The study participants were undergraduate students at a Hong Kong university (n=299). We used confirmatory factor analysis and structured equation models to develop an information acceptance model based on Klein’s (2002) 15 information quality dimensions. Our results suggested that 8 out of the 15 information quality dimensions were significant in predicting students’ use of Internet information in their academic work.&lt;/p&gt;

Concern for Pain in the Pre‐Operative Period‐ Is the Internet Being Used for Information By Patients?

This study was conducted to provide information regarding prevalence of pain, type of provider managing pain, and use of Internet for information regarding pain, among patients coming for presurgical anesthesia consultation at a major academic institution. With IRB approval, patients were invited to participate in a voluntary and anonymous 14 question survey given to them when they presented for anesthesia consultation prior to their surgical procedure. The qualitative/categorical data were summarized by number (percentage [%]) and analyzed by Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. All data analyses were performed using the statistical software SAS, v9.2. A total of 1039 patients were asked to complete the survey and 670 patients returned their responses (response rate = 64.5%). 83% of patients had a history of prior surgery. 57% were concerned about postoperative pain. 30% of patients had chronic pain for more than 3 months pre-operatively. 16% of patients had looked online for information regarding pain. Pain physicians were involved in pain management only in 3.8% of these patients. Patients are presenting for surgery with significant pre-operative pain issues. Knowing this information pre-operatively will help healthcare personnel manage postsurgical pain more effectively. Patients are also using the Internet to obtain information regarding pain. As providers, there may be value to directing patients to reliable information online during consultation. As all physicians will eventually be managing chronic pain in their patients, pain education should be given priority in medical school curriculum.

Role of the Internet as an information resource for surgical patients: a survey of 877 patients

This study was conducted to provide preliminary data regarding current Internet use practices for information about anaesthesia in patients undergoing elective surgical procedures at a major academic institution. With IRB approval, 2936 patients coming for preanaesthetic evaluation at a tertiary academic hospital's preadmission testing (PAT) centre were invited to voluntarily participate in a 20-item questionnaire designed to obtain participants' characteristics and Internet use for information pertaining to their upcoming surgery. Data were analysed using statistical software SAS (Cary, NC, USA). Descriptive statistics were calculated for continuous variables using mean (sd), and for categorical data using n (%). Association analysis was performed using the Fisher's exact test. Eight hundred and seventy-seven patients (30%) responded. Of these, 356 (41%) looked for information about their medical condition, 321 (37%) for their surgery, 279 (32%) for surgeon, 163 (19%) for the hospital, and only 36 (4%) for information regarding anaesthesia. Of these 36 patients, 14 (39%) said the sites they used helped answer their questions regarding anaesthesia. Of the 831 patients who did not use the Internet for anaesthesia, 503 (57%) indicated that they would be receptive to being directed to specific websites for anaesthesia. Of the patients coming for elective surgery who responded (30%), the majority did not use the Internet to seek information regarding anaesthesia. Respondents indicated a high degree of interest in being directed to appropriate websites for further information. These results suggest that it may be beneficial to include information regarding reliable web-based resources to interested patients at preoperative visits.

The use of internet information and political interest

The use of internet information and political interest

Parents’ Internet use for information about HPV vaccine

Parents’ Internet use for information about HPV vaccine

Parents’ Internet use for information about HPV vaccine

PurposeThe Internet is an increasingly common source of health-related information. We sought to examine associations between parents’ Internet information-seeking and their knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. MethodsWe interviewed parents within a year after approval of HPV vaccine for females and males. Participants were North Carolina parents with daughters ages 10–18 surveyed by telephone in Fall 2007 (n=773); and a national sample of parents with sons ages 11–17 surveyed online in Fall 2010 (n=115). We used multivariate regression to examine associations of past and intended Internet seeking for HPV vaccine information with knowledge and health belief model-related constructs. ResultsAmong parents of daughters, having heard of HPV vaccine through the Internet (8%) was associated with higher HPV knowledge, perceived likelihood of HPV, and vaccination willingness, and with receiving a doctor's recommendation. It was also associated with lower perceived vaccine harms, uncertainty, and anticipated regret. Parents of sons who heard of HPV vaccine through the Internet (10%) perceived greater barriers to vaccination than parents who learned about HPV vaccine for males through other sources. Intended future Internet information-seeking among parents of daughters (69%) was more likely if they perceived a lower likelihood that their daughters would get HPV if they were vaccinated (all p<.05). ConclusionsOur findings suggest a positive influence of accessing information on the Internet about HPV vaccine. It was associated with higher knowledge and mostly positive parental attitudes and beliefs.

The impact of the Internet on political attitudes in Kuwait and Egypt

This study reports the responses of 445 university students, 242 (54%) from Egypt and 203 (46%) from Kuwait, to a questionnaire exploring the influence of the length of time a person spends on the Internet, their reasons for using the Internet and the use of Internet applications on political efficacy, engagement and knowledge. Data were collected before the political unrest in Egypt took place. The study finds that Internet use for the reason of self-expression has a negative impact on political efficacy. The use of Facebook, Twitter and blogs as Internet applications, together with Internet use for information, positively predict political engagement. The discussion presented relates the results to the political upheavals currently transforming the Arab world and its politics.

Internet information-seeking and its relation to support for access to government records

Abstract Public access to government records is essential for democratic self-governance, and attitudes toward that right can facilitate or hinder public policy regarding transparency. As more people use the internet for gathering information about their governments and communities, it is unknown whether such online information-seeking is related to increased support for government transparency and the right to request public records. This paper applies a uses and gratification theory approach to examine internet information use and its relation to support for citizen and press access to government records. Three U.S. studies examined media-use correlates with support for government transparency: a paper questionnaire survey of college students (N = 614), an online survey (N = 1819), and a random-digit-dial telephone survey of randomly selected U.S. adults (N = 403). Analyses indicated varying results for television and newspaper use, but in all three datasets reliance on the internet for information was positively associated with support for access to public records. Implications for government transparency in a society increasingly reliant on the internet for information are discussed.

The Internet as an Emerging Patient Education Tool Among African American Men With Prostate Cancer: An Exploratory Study

The lives of African American men with prostate cancer are greatly influenced by the information available to them, some of which is accessed on the Internet. Research indicates that the Internet can enhance consumer health knowledge but has not reached socioeconomic groups at highest risk for health disparities, such as African American men with prostate cancer. In this study, focus groups were used to explore the perceptions and uses of the Internet as a patient education tool among 39 African American men aged 39 years and older with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Nineteen (49%) participants reported using the Internet, 15 (38%) reported no use but indicated it was used on their behalf, and 5 (13%) reported no use and no use on their behalf. The findings revealed varying degrees of Internet use for information and social support. Prostate cancer diagnosis, poor patient-doctor communications, and accessibility influenced Internet use. Accessibility related more to lack of ease and familiarity with Internet use than lack of computer access. With training and awareness, the Internet has potential as a patient education tool among African American men with prostate cancer.

A Study of Information Seeking by Cancer Patients and their Carers

Aims To examine cancer patients' and carers' use of, and attitudes to, the Internet as an information source compared with other media. Materials and methods The study was carried out in two phases: in phase I, interviews were used to construct a suitable instrument. In phase II, interviews were completed with 800 recently diagnosed patients and 200 carers. Results Relatively few patients (4.8%), but a high proportion of carers (48%), accessed the Internet directly for cancer information. However, around half of the patients used Internet information provided by someone else, generally a family member. The use of Internet information was uniformly low among ethnic minorities. Those who accessed Internet information reported high levels of satisfaction and generally rated it higher than booklets or leaflets. When asked who they would like to provide Internet information, overwhelmingly patients wanted the hospital doctor to do so. When this was done, there was very high compliance. Carers were much more proactive information seekers than patients. Conclusions The Internet is an effective means of information provision in those who use it. Facilitated Internet access and directed use by health professionals would be effective ways of broadening access to this medium.

Have internet message boards changed market behavior?

PurposeThis study seeks to investigate the changes in stock market behavior between the pre and post internet/message board eras.Design/methodology/approachThe study examines the stock return behavior for a large subset of firms in the S&amp;P 100 both before and after the implementation of the firms' message boards on Yahoo! Finance.FindingsThe data shows a significant increase in daily trading volume after a firm's message board was established which suggests that either new investors were drawn to the market or existing investors were induced to trade more frequently. The results also show that daily returns are significantly lower in the post‐message board era and that the market may have become riskier as the variance of these daily returns is significantly higher. These results hold after controlling for market and industry wide events and they are not unique to the stock market bubble of the late 1990s or the NBER‐dated recession of 2001.Originality/valueThis study builds on the work of Asthana and connects it to the message board studies conducted by Tumarkin and Whitelaw, and Antweiler and Frank by considering whether or not the internet in general, and message boards specifically, may have changed the underlying behavior of the stock market. It has important implications for those researchers studying market information efficiency and confirms the importance of studying internet information use by investors.