Use Of Health Information Research Articles

Health Information Availability and Utilization by Medical Practitioners for Chronic Disease Management in Central Hospitals, Warri-Delta State

Health Information Availability and Utilization by Medical Practitioners for Chronic Disease Management in Central Hospitals, Warri-Delta State

Factors influencing online health information search: An empirical analysis of a national cancer-related survey

People are increasingly using the Internet to access health information and the information obtained has an impact on their healthcare outcomes. This paper examines the impacts of IT enablers and health motivators on peoples' online health information search behavior. We characterize users' online health information search behavior along three dimensions: the frequency of online health information search, the diversity of online health information usage, and the preference of the Internet for initial search. Using the 2003 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) data on cancer, we find that ease of access to Internet services and trust in online health information could affect the three dimensional search behavior listed above. While perceived quality of communication with doctors has an impact on diversity of use and preference of use, we surprisingly do not find an impact on the frequency of search for online health information. In addition, our results find that perceived health status could affect both frequency and diversity of search for online health information. But we do not find evidence that perceived health status could lead to a preference for using the Internet as a source for health information.

Factors Affecting Electronic Health Information Needs in Primary Care Patients

Electronic health information is a new concept in the Lithuanian healthcare system. It gives the possibility of obtaining accurate medical information online by quick, convenient, and private access and presents to the patients the opportunity for better-informed decisions on their own health and greater participation in healthcare processes. The aim of this study is to assess the availability of health information for patients and to assess the factors affecting a patient's health-related information needs on the Internet. A cross-sectional study design was used. Self-perceived needs for health-related information and health-related information on the Internet were evaluated by means of a questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed to the patients during on-site visits to primary care physician. Cumulative numbers of health information searches were calculated. The Internet was used by 63.2% of the respondents. Electronic health information search indicated 47.3% were Internet users. Internet users were statistically significantly more satisfied and informed about available electronic health services: registration for physician services (p<0.001), health information portal (p<0.001), electronic health record (p<0.001), clinical investigations (p=0.001), medical consultations (p=0.009), patient health education services (p=0.019), and patient self-help groups. A higher frequency of health information searches on the Internet was more associated with female patients (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; p=0.012), patients having chronic disease (p=0.013), living in couples (OR, 14.8; p=0.031), having e-health service experience (OR, 7.0; p<0.001), daily Internet user (OR, 6.7; p=0.054), and longer duration of Internet use per day (OR, 1.3; p=0.046). The Internet is an important source of health information. Internet users are more satisfied with available health information. Female patients, those having chronic disease, living as couples, and having e-health service experience, and daily Internet users are the most frequent users of health information on the Internet.

Whole genomes, small children, big questions.

The child was first seen at the age of 15 months presenting with an unusual, severe and progressive Crohn’s disease-like illness. A definitive diagnosis could not be made, restricting effective clinical management. The boy underwent more than 100 surgical procedures over 3 years. A hematopoietic progenitor cell transplant, that might be a therapy of last resort, was considered too risky without a clear diagnosis of the underlying disorder. Established genetic tests for known congenital immune disorders presenting with inflammatory bowel disease-like illness were not informative. Ultimately, with institutional review board approval, research-stage, nonvalidated, WES was performed to make a clinical diagnosis and guide the treatment decision. The identification of the causative mutation enabled treatment of the underlying immune disorder and of the child’s bowel disease as well [3]. In a commentary article, alongside with the report describing the clinical and methodological details of the case, the Wisconsin group presents their ethical deliberations [4]. The authors raise some crucial questions – notwithstanding the impressive outcome and the indisputable huge benefit to the young patient – and suggest further discussion. This editorial aims to follow up on their suggestions. The first issue raised is about the elusive boundary between research and clinical care. As this case Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is entering clinical practice. Expectations are high: a better understanding of disease, more accurate diagnosis and targeted therapies are hoped for; however, while some answers are being found, many new questions are arising. At the current stage, the dimensions of the -omics data sets in particular are overwhelming and physician–researchers are just starting to explore the ways in which they can be used. Apart from the bioinformatics challenges of genome data management there are the questions of meaningful interpretation of the emerging knowledge for health information users, both patients and professionals. At the individual and the societal level, questions are being asked about the extent and the usefulness of the newly available knowledge, for example: do whole-genome or -exome sequences tell us more than we want to know about ourselves, and doctors more than they need to know to treat their patients? In addition, do whole genomes tell parents more than they should know about their children? Since the early days of cytogenetic diagnosis, similar questions have been raised about the extent of the information yielded by testing, the communication of findings, and the ethical implications of testing [1]. Today, the availability of WGS and whole-exome sequencing (WES) for clinical diagnostics puts these old questions in a new context. Most recently, the feasibility of WGS was described for the application of noninvasive prenatal diagnosis [2].

Information Seeking over the Course of Illness: The Experience of People with Fibromyalgia

Although there is literature addressing the fibromyalgia illness experience, there has been limited work concerning how people with fibromyalgia utilize health information. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the information needs and information-seeking patterns of such individuals, and how these might change over time. Data were collected through an online survey of fibromyalgia-related information behaviours (N = 190). The participants were recruited through two methods: an email invitation sent out over a university listserv including faculty, staff and students, and invitational posts on fibromyalgia discussion boards on various health-related websites. Respondents used the internet most frequently, but also placed great value on information from others, including healthcare practitioners, family and friends. Among the online sources, organization websites, health portals and health-related social networking sites were most frequently used. Topics of interest to people with fibromyalgia vary as they move from an initial stage of confusion, to diagnosis and eventually to a stage of equilibrium in which they are satisfied with their management of their condition. Aside from symptoms and treatments, topics often reflect a need to understand the meaning of their condition and coping skills. The areas of information need identified in the present study can be used to tailor patient education materials and information services to address contextual and temporal factors in the illness experiences of those with fibromyalgia.

Feasible Evidence-Based Strategies to Manage Depression in Primary Care

According to the World Health Organization, major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability-adjusted life years worldwide. However, recent evidence suggests depression remains undertreated in primary care settings. Measurement-based care (MBC) is an evidence-based strategy that can feasibly assist primary care physicians in managing patients with MDD. Utilizing health information technology tools, such as computer decision support software, can improve adherence to evidence-based treatment guidelines and MBC at the point of care.

Confounding in Observational Studies Explained

Practical and ethical constraints mean that many clinical and/or epidemiological questions cannot be answered through the implementation of a randomized controlled trial. Under these circumstances, observational studies are often required to assess relationships between certain exposures and disease outcomes. Unfortunately, observational studies are notoriously vulnerable to the effect of different types of “confounding,” a concept that is often a source of confusion among trainees, clinicians and users of health information. This article discusses the concept of confounding by way of examples and offers a simple guide for assessing the impact of is effects for learners of evidence-based medicine.

HEALTH LITERACY AMONG WORKERS IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE

Health literacy is the degree to which individuals can obtain, process and understand the basic health information and services they need to make appropriate health decisions.The objective of study was to determine health literacy level among workers, assess their ability to seek, understand and utilize health information and their capacity to retain and process health information. A cross sectional study of workers was done using a structured self administered one paged questionnaire which contained socio-demographics; health status indeces and functional Health literacy items. A total of 350 questionnaires were distributed but only 300 were returned and analyzed giving a return rate of 85.71%. In the previous 6 months, only 149 (49.7%) of respondents had conducted any form of medical examination. 231 (77%) understood instructions on how to use their drugs and hypertension: 11(3.7%) was the highest disease condition that respondents were aware that they had. 241 (80.3%) knew their blood group while 59(19.7%) did not know their blood group. 41(13.7%) and 145(48.3%) of the respondents also did not know their genotype and Rhesus factor respectively.144( 48%) of respondents had not gone for any medical screening. 149(49.7%) respondents obtained drug information from doctors while 76(25.3%) were from pharmacist. In addition, 43 (14.3%) of respondents could not understand instructions on how to take their medication. Knowledge of availability of vaccines was relatively poor. For HIV/AIDS, 47(15.7 %) of the respondents believe there is vaccine while 130(43.3%) were confident that a vaccine is available for malaria. In conclusion,this study reveals poor attitude to health by the civil servants and the level of health literacy is low thus it is pertinent to design an ideal training program for pharmacists and other health care providers so that they can improve the literacy level in order to achieve better healthcare outcomes of the society

The Evolution of a Novel Biomedical Informatics Curriculum for Medical Students

Health information technology is an essential component of current medical practice, and federal initiatives to promote the further adoption of these technologies are under way. Therefore, it is increasingly important that medical students receive training in the use of these technologies and become familiar with the discipline of biomedical informatics (BMI), which seeks to maximize the utility of health information. In August 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine established a new four-year medical school campus in Phoenix. At the same time, a new BMI department was created by the Arizona State University on the same campus. One of the unique features of the new medical school curriculum was a significant focus on BMI, consisting of over 45 hours of required sequenced and integrated instruction in BMI topics. This article describes how the medical school curriculum was created, what BMI elements were contained within the curriculum, and how the instruction was provided. Evaluation of the curriculum included subjective and objective components and revealed significant differences both within group (pre- and posttraining) and across groups when compared with students without formal BMI training. Specifically, self-assessment of BMI ability increased after exposure to the curriculum, and students receiving the BMI curriculum were able to answer objective questions related to BMI content. Implications and lessons learned in the implementation are also discussed.

‘Talking about my generation’: a state‐of‐the‐art review of health information for men in the andropause

The focus of this article is the availability and use of information in the UK about the male menopause or as it's beginning to be known by the general public and health professionals, the andropause. The experiences of men suffering from the andropause today are reflective of menopausal women some 20 or 30 years ago. Ignorance and fear of the andropause condition abounds in the general public and amongst health professionals. There is a paucity of information in the literature about the symptoms and condition of the andropause. The review considers the provision and use of information available for men in the andropause in the public domain, examining both NHS and condition specific sources. The use of electronic sources is specifically reviewed, including an online forum. The use of electronic sources is indicative of other health information users. The reviewer concludes by suggesting that increased knowledge sharing is required by health professionals and the general public about the symptoms and condition of the andropause. It is recommended that men in the andropause identify a 'champion' to assist their cause. This will help in gaining greater recognition and understanding of the condition and attract the most appropriate treatment.

Organizational Factors Associated with Health Information Technology Adoption and Utilization Among Home Health / Hospice Agencies

Health information technology (HIT) adoption has been recommended as a method to improve care coordination and promote patient safety. Home health agencies can use HIT to improve coordination of care provided in multiple locations. The purposes of this study are: 1) to determine the EMR adoption rate and use of point of care technology among a US sample of 1,036 home health/hospice facilities, and 2) to identify the organizational factors associated with EMR adoption. Analyses were performed using SAS and SAS-callable SUDAAN. The study found that not-for-profit agencies, regardless of services offered, were more likely to have an EMR system. Use of point of care documentation was associated with not-for-profit status, large patient panels, and having been in business for less than 10 years. This study extends population ecology theory into innovation adoption theories by explaining possible competitive advantages of EMR adoption within home health care.

Health information and the digital divide

Using data from the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the present study explores whether a ‘digital divide’ driven by age and socioeconomic status exists among white adults in the United States, and its possible influence on health information search, retrieval, and utilization. The results suggest that there are major differences in exploiting health information sources between Internet users and non-users, and on perception about the search process itself: using the Internet as a channel to access health information decreases search effort, and increases understanding and confidence with the retrieved information. The authors argue that a ‘digital divide’ exists, which left uncorrected may pose significant challenges to the American health system in the long run, and may have an impact on the ability of marketers to reach their intended audiences.

Understanding the Online Health Information User Profiles in Korea: From a Psychological Perspective

This study was conducted to explore the profiles of online health information users in terms of certain psychological characteristics and to suggest guidelines for the provision of better user-oriented health information service. The cross-sectional study design was used with convenient sampling by Web-based questionnaire survey in Korea. To analyze health information user profiles on the Internet, a two-step cluster analysis was conducted. The results reveal that online health information users can be classified into four groups according to their level of subjective knowledge and health concern. The findings also suggest that four clusters that exhibit distinct profile patterns exist. The findings of this study would be useful for health portal developers who would like to understand users' characteristics and behaviors and to provide more user-oriented service in a satisfactory manner. It is suggested that to develop a full understanding of users' behaviors regarding Internet health information service, further research would be needed to explore users' various needs, their preferences, and relevant factors among users across a variety of health problem-addressing Web sites at different professional levels.

Evidence based library and information practice in Australia: defining skills and knowledge

This guest feature from Suzanne Lewis, a long-time advocate of evidence based library and information practice (EBLIP) in Australia, discusses a current trend within the movement that focuses on the skills, knowledge and competencies of health librarians. In particular, the feature describes three specific Australia-based research projects, on expert searching, indigenous health and future skills requirements for the health library workforce respectively, that exemplify this trend. These projects illustrate how the evidence base can be strengthened around the skills and knowledge required to deliver services that continue to meet the changing needs of health library and information users.

Partners in Progress: Informing the Science and Practice of Health Communication Through National Surveillance

The Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) was conceived during a risk communication conference in 1997, wherein attendees representing the fields of psychology, public health, health education, health behavior, journalism, and medicine encouraged the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to develop a health and cancer communication-specific population survey to track trends in American adults’ access to, need for, and use of cancer information. This call for the development of a national cancer communication survey coincided with NCI’s designation of an Extraordinary Opportunity in Cancer Communication, which allowed the NCI to support scientific research to advance the study of cancer communication. A key component of this initiative was the HINTS. Building upon the interdisciplinary recommendations of the 1997 risk communication conference, NCI developed a national survey to assess trends in health information usage over time and cancer-related communication, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. The NCI fielded the first HINTS in 2002 and 2003, surveying 6,369 adult Americans. Subsequent surveys followed in 2005 (5,586 Americans surveyed) and 2008 (7,674 Americans surveyed). For each survey administration, a HINTS Data Users Conference is held to encourage HINTS data users to share their research findings, to build the research community, and to gather input for future survey administrations. The third HINTS Data Users Conference was held in Silver Spring, MD, in September 2009. The conference theme, “Partners in Progress,” emphasized the collaborative nature of the HINTS program. The conference included a series of oral presentations focused on the following themes: Partners, Populations, and Progress; Survey Methodology; Health Communication; and Media and Health Communication. This special issue of the Journal of Health Communication is organized according to these thematic tracks and builds upon the oral presentations, poster presentations, and group discussions of the conference. The articles included in this issue describe key findings from HINTS research using data from the three HINTS data sets to explore disparities in health communication, information access, or use of communication technologies; examine health surveillance methodology including topics such as response rates, mode effects, scale development, and sampling design; examine patient and healthcare provider communication, perceptions of quality of healthcare, the impact of communication technology on the clinical encounter, and patient centered communication; and examine the impact of media and the Internet on information seeking and cancer-related knowledge as well as exploration of group differences in use of health communication technology. Tracking the cancer-related information needs, experiences, knowledge, attitudes, and risk behaviors of the American public is critical to NCI’s strategic objectives in service of the NCI mission to reduce the cancer burden through coordinated efforts to advance fundamental cancer knowledge across the continuum from discovery to delivery. This imperative requires multidisciplinary and collaborative partnerships, which have been instrumental to the success of the HINTS program. We are grateful to the HINTS community of data and results users, and enthusiastically anticipate continued collaboration and partnership as the driving force for progress in the HINTS program. We hope that the research featured in this special issue will fortify the evidence base for developing effective cancer communication strategies and inform future work in communication science and cancer prevention and control.

Understanding the consistent use of internet health information

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse whether internet experience, process quality, outcome quality, customer satisfaction, and post‐use expectations affect the consistent use of health information online by Chinese internet users and how these factors are related to one another.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 219 Chinese university students who are currently using, or have used, the health information services available on the internet. Tertiary students were selected because they are active internet users who frequently use the internet to search for information.FindingsInternet experience affects process quality, but it has no direct relation to outcome quality or customer satisfaction. Process quality determines customer satisfaction toward health information available on the internet and influences the outcome quality; however, the outcome quality is not related to customer satisfaction. The decision to reuse health information found on the internet is influenced by both customer satisfaction and post‐use expectations. The customers' post‐use expectations are primarily influenced by customer satisfaction.Practical implicationsFor a successful internet business, internet marketers should recognise that service quality includes both process quality and outcome quality and plan new campaigns that take this factor into consideration. Tracking post‐use expectations can help predict, with reasonable accuracy, the relationship between customer satisfaction and retention of health information found on the internet.Originality/valueThis study provides a better understanding about the users of health information found on the internet in China by taking into account the above‐mentioned factors: internet experience, post‐use expectation, process quality, and outcome quality.

Market segmentation of health information use on the Internet in Korea

Background Internet is the common way to access all kind of information, thus it becomes to have highly influential place on the range of health care as well. More and more people have been using Internet to get the latest information on the health-related matters. However, it is very important but not easy to find the correct data and select it efficiently among the enormous amount of information. To identify the information seekers and understand their needs or purposes, they would be very effective for the providers to give high-quality health information for the Internet users. Objectives The purpose of this study is to reveal the patterns of utilization of health information on the Internet. The subjects of the survey were randomly selected among the local residents by their age and gender. It was conducted in Gangwon, the province and Incheon, the metropolitan city at the same time. To investigate the similar amount of population, 0.5% of Gangwon and 0.3% of Incheon dwellers were chosen. Methods 10,325 people were responded to the telephone poll and the investigation had been conducted from July to October 2006. 8656 from 10,325 completed the survey and 1665 (19.2%) of them had used Internet to get health information in last 1-year. The use of health information on the Internet was classified into four categories as follows: general health tips, disease specific information, shopping for health commodities, and selection of hospitals. The questionnaire included articles regarding socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender, income, education, dwelling area, health status and behaviors such as cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. Results Of all 1665 respondents, 726 (17.2%) men (total 4210) and 939 (21.1%) women (total 4446) had used Internet for health information in last 1-year. The health information that people wanted from Internet was as follows: general health tips (64.2%), disease specific information (32.0%), shopping for health commodities (23.7%), and selection of hospitals (19.3%). The people of higher education and higher income level tended to use Internet more often for health information. Metropolitan city dwellers used health information on the Internet more than people from province did. Personal health status appeared to be the most important factor to search the information about general health tips from the Internet. Healthy people (68.3%) used the Internet more than people with diseases (44.4%) who used Internet most frequently for disease specific information (62.6%). Residence area was the most important factor of online shopping for health commodities. While 31.8% of city dwellers used the Internet, only 19.0% of metropolitan or county dwellers used it for the same purpose. Determinant factors for the utilization of the Internet for hospital selection were residence area, age, and health examination. Conclusions We found that each section of health information has its own clients concerning their personal interests and status of health and life style. That is why customized market segmentation is strongly recommended for their loyal customers. Depends on the information seekers’ health status, it should be decided which information would be more useful for them between general health tips and specific disease. On the other hand, the area where the information seekers live can be more influential on terms of shopping for health commodities. These results will be a great help to start to understand the closer atmosphere of the ideal health information market to provide more valuable services in more various use.

An evaluation of health literacy (HL) in a consecutive sample of patients (pts) with cancer (ca) of the head and neck (H+N) region.

9069 Background: HL refers to the capacity to seek, understand, and utilize health information to make informed health decisions. Pts with low HL experience worse outcomes. Understanding HL issues may result in strategies to enhance pt outcomes. This study assessed (1) level of HL in pts treated for H+N ca, and (2) associations between HL and demographic factors (age, sex, education level, socioeconomic status) and level of distress. Methods: Consecutive English-speaking pts were approached within 1 month of diagnosis. HL was assessed using the shortened Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA), which assesses literacy and numeracy using health-related materials (scores 0-53 = inadequate, 54-66 marginal and 67-100 adequate HL), distress with the Distress Thermometer (DT, 0-10). Data collection was by 1:1 interview. Relationships between S-TOFHLA scores, demographic factors and DT scores were explored using Spearman's rho for continuous variables and Mann-Whitney U (of Kruskal-Wallis H) for nominal variables. Results: Response rate was 73.2% (82 approached, 64 consented, 60 completed). Mean age 62.4 (SD 13.9, range 27-92), 86.7% were male. 5% of pts had inadequate HL, 6.7% marginal and 88.3% adequate HL. Pts with inadequate HL were all males, without university education and from lower socioeconomic status. Individual items of S-TOFHLA showed 73.3% of all pts could not interpret prescription labels and 35% were unable to understand a standard appointment card. Pts with university education had a higher median HL score compared to those without (U=232, p=0.008; median=92, IQR: 85–93 and median=84, IQR: 75–91 respectively). The relationship between age and HL was weak but not significant (rho=−0.25, p=0.056). The corresponding relationship with distress was negligible (rho=−0.002, p > 0.1). 45% pts had high levels of distress (DT ≥4). Conclusions: Prevalence of less than adequate HL was 11.7% in this sample of Australian H+N ca pts. However many pts with adequate HL according to S-TOFHLA were unable to understand important basic health information. There were no clear associations between HL and distress or demographic factors, aside from university education. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Knowledge Attitude and Practice Towards Skilled Care Attendance among Women of Reproductive Age Group in Eritrea

Introduction: Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in Eritrea is one of the highest in the world. According to the EDHS of 1995, the MMR in Eritrea was 998 per 100,000. The MMR estimation of WHO/UNFPA/UNICEF for Eritrea is 630/100,000 live births. The Government of Eritrea in collaboration with its partners are implementing the Road Map for accelerating the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality in Eritrea. Objective: To assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) on the utilization of maternal and child health information and services among women of reproductive age group. Methods: A cross sectional community based study using standard questionnaire was conducted in three zones of Eritrea in April 2006 on 851 women in reproductive age group residing in 33 villages randomly selected. At 28% skilled care attendance rate and 95% confidence interval, the sample size was calculated to be 927. The response rate was 851 (91.8%) of the sample size. Results: A total of 851 (92%) women were interviewed and majority 652 (76.9%) were Moslems and the rest were Christians. About two-third (59.3%) of the women had no formal education. 88.7% of the respondents were housewives. 13.6% of the total 788 respondents had at least one abortion. Excessive bleeding was one of the leading causes of maternal death. The symptoms of mothers at the time of death as mentioned by the interviewed women were excessive bleeding for 18.8%, fast breathing for 12.5%, fever for 6.3% and others for 62.5%. Gash Barka zone hah the lowest skilled care attendance (SCA) (23.6%) as compared to the other two zones Northern Red Sea 39.3% and Southern Red sea (47.2%). Orthodox Christians had a higher level of SCA at birth (58.0%) as compared to (30.4%). Unmarried women have a higher level of SCA (66.0%) as compared to married women (35.3%). The study also elucidated that as educational level increases the SCA at birth also increases from 24.3% among uneducated women to 83.9% among those with grade 10-12. There was no significant change of SCA by age. Conclusion: The study revealed that skilled care attendance at birth is still very low as compared to other countries and bleeding is the major cause of maternal death. Education of women is crucial for service utilization. It is recommended that husbands should be targeted for Behavioral Change Communication and women to be empowered to make a decision of their destiny.

Digital Diversity or Digital Divide: An Exploratory Research on Age, Gender, Race and Income Characteristics of Online Health Information Users

Digital Diversity or Digital Divide: An Exploratory Research on Age, Gender, Race and Income Characteristics of Online Health Information Users