The impact of health information needs' satisfaction of hypertensive patients on their clinical outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-62
Author(s):  
Petros Kostagiolas ◽  
Anastasios Milkas ◽  
Panos Kourouthanassis ◽  
Kyriakos Dimitriadis ◽  
Konstantinos Tsioufis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Clinical Condition ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Satisfaction Level ◽  
Hypertensive Patients ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Satisfaction ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe ultimate aim of this study is to investigate how health information needs’ satisfaction actually makes a difference to the patients' management of a chronic clinical condition. The literature falls short of providing evidence on the interaction between patients' health information seeking behaviour and the successful management of a clinical condition. On the other hand, patient education and good information seeking practices are deemed necessary for hypertension management daily decisions.Design/methodology/approachA specially designed questionnaire study was developed: The survey design was informed by the information seeking behaviour model of Wilson for studying hypertension patients' information needs, information resources and obstacles patients face while seeking hypertension-related information. Moreover, clinical information was collected in order to make associations and inference on the impact of information seeking on patients' clinical outcomes.FindingsThe study included 111 patients submitted to the outpatient hypertension clinic of a university hospital in Athens for a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM). The analysis showed that those reporting higher satisfaction level of their information needs achieved lower values in ABPM (ABPM<130/80mmHg, p = 0.049). Stepwise the logistic regression analysis revealed three independent factors to predict the possibility of being optimally treated (ABPM<130/80mmHg). Dipping status (OR: 14.052, 95% CI: 4.229–46.688, p = 0.0001) patients with high satisfaction level of their disease (OR: 13.450, 95% CI: 1.364–132.627, p = 0.026) and interpersonal relationships were used as the main source of information (OR: 1.762, 95% CI: 1.024–3.031, p = 0.41).Originality/valueHypertensive patients with high satisfaction level of information achieve better disease control. Among different sources of information, interpersonal relationships emerge as the most appropriate factor for patients' disease control.

Refugee and immigrant health information needs

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-171
Author(s):  
Margaret Zimmerman ◽  
Heather Beam
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Information Requirements ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Immigrant And Refugee ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviors

Purpose The purpose of this article is to provide insight into the HISB of this group. Immigrants and refugees are at a heightened risk for negative health outcomes upon resettlement. However, little scholarship reports on the health information-seeking behaviors and information needs of this population. Design/methodology/approach This study reports the findings of a study into the health information-seeking behaviors of 85 immigrant and refugee women. Women were asked to fill out a survey in their native language with both multiple choice and open-ended questions that requested information on what health information they required the most, which means they used to get it and paired this with demographic information. Findings In their own words, the participants reported information requirements regarding dental care, nutrition, general, reproductive and child health, as well as assistance in navigating the healthcare system. However, they believed that medical professionals are the most reliable sources of information and that they frequently turned to less credible sources such as friends and family or the internet. This may be because of their self-reported barriers of language and cost, as wells difficulty in understanding how to obtain information in the USA. What sources the participants used and what their informational needs were was influenced by their age, education and time living in the USA. Some comparisons are made with a group of local women in a similar study conducted concurrently by the author. Originality/value The research presented in this study provides a clearer understanding of the health information requirements and behaviors of refugee and immigrant women.

Information seeking for coping with cancer: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emil Petersen ◽  
Jesper Gabs Jensen ◽  
Tove Faber Frandsen
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Coping Strategy ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
The Impact

PurposeInformation seeking can be used to make sense of a situation or solve a problem. Information seeking can be considered a coping strategy when facing illness, crisis or other life-changing events. Cancer is a globally occurring, life-threatening disease, and this review aims to provide an overview of the existing literature on the active information seeking behaviour of cancer patients specifically focussing on how active information seeking serves as a coping strategy.Design/methodology/approachThis study adheres to current guidelines for conducting systematic reviews and consequently, thorough literature searches were conducted in four databases: Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus which resulted in 7,179 publications. Following a careful screening process, this systematic review identifies 14 studies on the use of information seeking to cope with cancer.FindingsThe included studies consist of both qualitative and quantitative approaches to analysing the use of information seeking to cope with cancer. The included studies have focussed primarily on demographic factors, the impact of affect, information needs, sources and coping strategies.Research limitations/implicationsA number of research gaps within library and information science are identified. Bringing research in this field into information science could allow for a greater understanding of information literacy, the use of existing information and the process of information searching when using information seeking to cope with serious illness.Originality/valueThis systematic review focusses on how information seeking serves as a coping strategy for cancer patients and provides an overview of the recent literature.

Information seeking behaviour of parents and caregivers of children with mental illness in Tanzania

2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (8/9) ◽  
pp. 567-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edda Tandi Lwoga ◽  
Neema Florence Mosha
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Gender Categories ◽  
Parents And Caregivers

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to assess information needs and information seeking behaviour of parents and caregivers of children with mental illness at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Tanzania. The study mainly assessed the information needs of parents and caregivers of children with mental illness, their preferable sources of health information, and their constraints on information seeking. Design/methodology/approach – This study used a case study research design, where 168 structured questionnaires were distributed to parents and caregivers of children with mental illness at the Neurological Pediatrics Outpatient Clinic of KCMC. The rate of response was 89.3 per cent. Findings – The study found that health information needs of parents and caregivers were mainly associated with health care (for example, nutrition, treatment) and health education. Parents and caregivers of children with mental illness used the internet as the main source of information about their children's health, which was followed by printed books and television. Health information seeking behaviour appeared similar across gender categories, but there were differences on the use of print and electronic information sources according to age and level of education. The main factors that hindered access to health information included low level of education, lack of funds and health information illiteracy. Practical implications – The paper provides useful suggestions that would facilitate information seeking and use among parents and caregivers of children with mental illness in Tanzania and other countries with similar conditions. Originality/value – Previous studies on the topic are scanty and, therefore, the paper provides important insights into the information needs and information seeking behaviour of parents and caregivers of children with mental illness in a developing country setting.

Sexual health information-seeking behavior on a social media site: predictors of best answer selection

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 880-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Jeong Yi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sexual Health Information ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
Health Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Questions And Answers

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify sexual health information needs and the cognitive and affective factors correlated with the best answer chosen by social Q&A users.Design/methodology/approachThe study collected questions and answers regarding sexual health information on a social Q&A site, and analyzed the questions and a paired sample composed of best and non-best answers (n=480).FindingsThe main information needs of consumers are human development, sexual behavior, and sexual health. Best answers are more likely to include both cognitive (higher level of readability, risky information, social norms) and affective factors (empathy, positive/negative feelings, and optimistic information) than non-best answers.Research limitations/implicationsThe study illuminates the roles of social Q&A as a unique platform to discuss sensitive health topics due to the fact that consumers use such social media sites as critical complementary health information sources.Practical implicationsIf health information providers develop information with the factors that the study suggests, not only will it be more adopted by consumers, but it will also ameliorate the quality concerns about online health information.Originality/valuePrevious studies only investigated the most prevalent factors, rather than the most effective ones, which have a greater influence on best answer selection. This study compares the best answers and the non-best answers to overcome the limitations of the previous studies. Above all, the study applied the persuasion concepts to address the cognitive and affective perspectives to the answer evaluations of social Q&A.

A cross-sectional survey interconnecting health information seeking behavior with clinical data of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Petros Kostagiolas ◽  
Panagiotis Tsiligros ◽  
Panagiotis Theodorou ◽  
Nikolaos Tentolouris ◽  
Dimitrios Niakas
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Seeking Behavior

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is the investigation of type 2 diabetes patients' information seeking behavior in terms of their information needs, sources and barriers faced by patients when seeking information. The information seeking behavior is associated with clinical patient data.Design/methodology/approachThe relevant literature is reviewed, and the results of a cross-sectional survey informed by Wilson's macro-model of information seeking behavior are reported. The survey includes 106 outpatients from the diabetes clinic of a Greek major university hospital and includes information seeking behaviors and patient's clinical evidence.FindingsThe most important health information needs are related to the complications, symptoms and causes of diabetes, to the proper diet for diabetics and the measures adopted to avoid foot complications. Furthermore, the most important information resources were physicians, ophthalmologists, books, broadcast media and family members. Obstacles encountered during information seeking include the complicated nature of health information, which involves scientific terms as well as psychological issues. The diabetes stage is correlated with information needs for diabetes medication, while the years from the first diagnosis are negatively correlated with the use of informal sources.Research limitations/implicationsThe information needs and sources of diabetic patients, as well as the main obstacles to this pursuit, could potentially have important implications in designing a future information campaign and information services for diabetes patients.Originality/valueThe Wilson's macro-model of information seeking has been applied to the diabetic patients' information seeking behavior; while information needs, information sources and information obstacles are correlated with clinical evidence from patients’ hospital records.

scholarly journals Empowering or misleading? Online health information provision challenges

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 1000-1020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Dahl ◽  
Lynne Eagle
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
Medical Conditions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Leaflets ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Theoretical Foundations

Purpose Patient empowerment (PE) is a key public health policy tool globally which is seen as unproblematic, but contains a number of unwarranted assumptions and unrecognised challenges to achieving effective implementation. Further, the theoretical foundations for understanding the impact of persuasive health communications on PE are weak. The purpose of this paper is to review these factors and to highlight major areas of concern. Design/methodology/approach First, the assumptions underpinning empowerment and the implicit theoretical foundations for active health information seeking behaviours are reviewed. This is then followed by a readability analysis of internet-based material relating to two general medical conditions, four chronic medical conditions and six patient information leaflets which was conducted to explore issues relation to the provision and readability of online health information. Findings The assumptions underpinning expectations of policy makers and health organisations regarding active health information seeking are shown to be problematic, with several potential impediments to effective PE implementation, including the fact that almost all of the online material reviewed is written in language too complex for the majority of the general public to comprehend, let alone act on. Practical implications Recommendations are made for guiding information seeking and a research agenda is outlined that would aid in strengthening theoretical underpinnings, expand knowledge and thereby help inform practice and policy debate regarding how PE can be improved. Originality/value This paper contributes to understanding of the challenges of effective health communication in the digital age by highlighting the need for a greater understanding of online health information seeking and the impact of limited health literacy and numeracy.

scholarly journals User-driven efforts in creating knowledge graph information system

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-111
Author(s):  
Stanislava Gardasevic
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Resource Discovery ◽  
The Body ◽  
Knowledge Graph ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Content Type

Purpose This paper presents the results of a qualitative study that involved students of an interdisciplinary PhD program. The study objective was to gather requirements to create a knowledge graph information system. The purpose of this study was to determine information-seeking practices and information needs of this community, to inform the functionalities of a proposed system, intended to help students with relevant resource discovery and decision-making. Design/methodology/approach The study design included semi-structured interviews with eight members of the community, followed by a website usability study with the same student participants. Findings Two main information-seeking styles are recognized and reported through user personas of international and domestic (USA) students. The findings show that the useful information resides within the community and not so much on the program website. Students rely on peer communication, although they report lack of opportunities to connect. Students’ information needs and information seeking are dependent on their progress through the program, as well as their motivation and the projected timeline. Practical implications Considering the current information needs and practices, a knowledge graph hosting both information on social networks and the knowledge produced by the activities of the community members would be useful. By recording data on their activities (for example, collaboration with professors and coursework), students would reveal further useful system functionalities and facilitate transfer of tacit knowledge. Originality/value Aside from the practical value of this research that is directly influencing the design of a system, it contributes to the body of knowledge on interdisciplinary PhD programs.

Impact of values on the learning approaches of Chinese construction students in Hong Kong

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 481-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-yung Leung ◽  
Chen Dongyu ◽  
Anita M.M. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Personal Values ◽  
Value Systems ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Personal Integrity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Learning Behaviours ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of personal values on students’ learning behaviours. Hong Kong construction students are often criticized, by both practitioners and educators, as rote learners. To improve students’ learning processes, extensive research on a variety of aspects of construction education has been conducted. However, limited attention has been paid to the influence of personal values on students’ learning behaviours. The impact of personal value factors on the learning approaches of Chinese construction students in Hong Kong is investigated. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey was conducted to ethically Chinese construction students in four universities in Hong Kong. A total of 820 questionnaires were distributed and 431 valid returns were collected. Findings – The survey identified six influential values (namely, personal integrity, conservatism, determination, discipline, interpersonal relationships, and achievement), and shows that students who emphasize the virtues of personal integrity, determination, and a positive attitude toward achievement are better able to handle their interpersonal relationships, which will eventually lead them to engage in deep learning. Originality/value – Work to develop appropriate value systems is thus recommended in freshmen courses, as is the use of cooperative learning approaches. Such value systems will have a long-term influence on the learning approaches of construction students.

Characterizing response quantity on academic social Q&A sites: a multidiscipline comparison of linguistic characteristics of questions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Li ◽  
Anrunze Li ◽  
Xue Song ◽  
Xinran Li ◽  
Kun Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Function Words ◽  
Second Person ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Five Disciplines ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Academic Communication ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeAs academic social Q&A networking websites become more popular, scholars are increasingly using them to meet their information needs by asking academic questions. However, compared with other types of social media, scholars are less active on these sites, resulting in a lower response quantity for some questions. This paper explores the factors that help explain how to ask questions that generate more responses and examines the impact of different disciplines on response quantity.Design/methodology/approachThe study examines 1,968 questions in five disciplines on the academic social Q&A platform ResearchGate Q&A and explores how the linguistic characteristics of these questions affect the number of responses. It uses a range of methods to statistically analyze the relationship between these linguistic characteristics and the number of responses, and conducts comparisons between disciplines.FindingsThe findings indicate that some linguistic characteristics, such as sadness, positive emotion and second-person pronouns, have a positive effect on response quantity; conversely, a high level of function words and first-person pronouns has a negative effect. However, the impacts of these linguistic characteristics vary across disciplines.Originality/valueThis study provides support for academic social Q&A platforms to assist scholars in asking richer questions that are likely to generate more answers across disciplines, thereby promoting improved academic communication among scholars.

scholarly journals Share to Seek: The Effects of Disease Complexity on Health Information Seeking Behavior (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashwag Alasmari ◽  
Lina Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Mixed Data ◽  
Disease Development ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
Types Of Information

BACKGROUND Online Questioning and Answering (Q&A) sites have emerged as an alternative source for serving individuals’ health information needs. Despite the amount of studies concerning the analysis of user-generated content in online Q&A sites, there is an insufficient understanding of the effect of disease complexity on information seeking needs, and the types of information shared, and little research have been devoted to questions that involve multimorbidity. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate online sharing of health information at different levels of disease complexity. In particular, this study gains a deep insight into the effect of disease complexity in terms of information seeking needs, types of information shared, and stages of disease development. METHODS We first selected a random sample of 400 questions from each site. The data cleaning resulted in a final set of 624 questions, 316 questions from Yahoo Answers and 308 from WebMD Answers. We used a mixed data approach, including qualitative content analysis followed by statistical quantitative analysis. RESULTS The analysis of variance One Way ANOVA showed significant differences in the disease complexity (single versus multimorbid disease questions) only on two information seeking needs: diagnosis (F1, 622 =5.08, p=0.00), and treatment (F1, 622 =4.82, p=0.00). There were also statistically significant differences between the two levels of disease complexity when considering the stages of disease development, the general health stage (F1,622 =48.02, p=0.00) and chronic stage (F1,622 =54.01, p=0.00). Moreover, our findings showed significant differences among the two types of disease complexity on all types of shared information, demographic information (F1,622 =32.24, p=0.00), medical all (F1,622 = 16.75, p=0.00), medical diagnosis (F1,622 =11.04, p=0.00), as well as treatment and prevention (F1,622 =14.55, p=0.00). CONCLUSIONS The findings present implications for designing online Q&A sites to better support health information seeking. Future experimental studies should be conducted to verify these findings and provide effective health information from Q&A sites. CLINICALTRIAL

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