Differences in Perceptions of Health Information Between the Public and Health Care Professionals: Nonprobability Sampling Questionnaire Survey

BACKGROUND In the new media age, the public searches for information both online and offline. Many studies have examined how the public reads and understands this information but very few investigate how people assess the quality of journalistic articles as opposed to information generated by health professionals. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine how public health care workers (HCWs) and the general public seek, read, and understand health information and to investigate the criteria by which they assess the quality of journalistic articles. METHODS A Web-based nonprobability sampling questionnaire survey was distributed to Israeli HCWs and members of the public via 3 social media outlets: Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. A total of 979 respondents participated in the online survey via the Qualtrics XM platform. RESULTS The findings indicate that HCWs find academic articles more reliable than do members of the general public (44.4% and 28.4%, respectively, P<.001). Within each group, we found disparities between the places where people search for information and the sources they consider reliable. HCWs consider academic articles to be the most reliable, yet these are not their main information sources. In addition, HCWs often use social networks to search for information (18.2%, P<.001), despite considering them very unreliable (only 2.2% found them reliable, P<.001). The same paradoxes were found among the general public, where 37.5% (P<.001) seek information via social networks yet only 8.4% (P<.001) find them reliable. Out of 6 quality criteria, 4 were important both to HCWs and to the general public. CONCLUSIONS In the new media age where information is accessible to all, the quality of articles about health is of critical importance. It is important that the criteria examined in this research become the norm in health writing for all stakeholders who write about health, whether they are professional journalists or citizen journalists writing in the new media.

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Resilience of hospital facilities in Singapore’s healthcare industry: a pilot study

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment ◽

10.1108/ijdrbe-10-2015-0050 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 537-554 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sui Pheng Low ◽

Shang Gao ◽

Gina Qi Er Wong

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Questionnaire Survey ◽

Health Care Industry ◽

Ageing Population ◽

Content Type ◽

The Public ◽

Care Industry ◽

Survey Results

Purpose Singapore’s health-care infrastructure is suffering from increasing pressure due to population growth and a rapidly ageing population. This paper aims to assess the resilience of hospital facilities in Singapore’s health-care industry. The main attribute of resilience is adaptive capacity, which is also associated with vulnerability. Vulnerability is defined as the system’s susceptibility to threats that cause damage and affect its normal performance, while resilience is defined as the ability to anticipate and the capacity to change before a setback becomes obvious. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was adopted for the study, with respondents drawn randomly from both the health-care professionals as well as the public. The questionnaire survey results from 83 respondents, consisting of 31 health-care professionals and 52 members of the public, are analysed in this pilot study. Findings Ninety-one per cent of the respondents perceived bed shortage as an indication of vulnerability. The survey results showed that bed shortages, high bed-occupancy and long waiting hours were perceived as indications of vulnerability. The top three vulnerabilities identified were Singapore’s ageing population, the fast-growing population and the increasing trend of chronic diseases in its population. From the results, respondents appeared doubtful about the resilience of Singapore’s public hospitals. On a positive note, Singapore residents are still, relatively speaking, confident of the quality of Singapore’s health-care delivery system, which can be translated as one with relatively strong community resilience. Originality/value In conclusion, it appears fair to say that the public perceive hospital facilities in Singapore’s health-care industry to be reasonably resilient, but expect further improvements to ensure continuous delivery of quality health-care services.

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A Dutchman in London: reflections of a hospital chief executive from the Netherlands in the NHS

BMJ Leader ◽

10.1136/leader-2021-000509 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. leader-2021-000509

Author(s):

Marcel Levi

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Chief Executive ◽

Point Of View ◽

British Society ◽

The Public ◽

Interesting Insight ◽

Clinical Point ◽

High Level

BackgroundThe NHS is a fascinating health care system and is enjoying a lot of support from all layers of British society. However, it is clear that the system has excellent features but also areas that can be improved.Story of selfA number of years as a chief executive in one of London’s largest hospital has brought me a wealth of impressions, experiences, and understanding about working in the NHS. Contrasting those to my previous experience as chief executive in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) provides an interesting insight.ObservationsVery strong features of the NHS are the high level of health care professionals, the focus on quality and safety, and involvement of patients and the public. However, the NHS can significantly improve by addressing the lack of clinical professionals in the lead, curtailing ever increasing bureaucracy, and reducing its peculiar preference for outsourcing even the most crucial activities to private parties. The frequent inability to swiftly and successfully complete goal-directed negotiations as well as the large but from a clinical point of view irrelevant private sector are areas of sustained bewilderment. Lastly, the drive for innovation and transformation as well as the level of biomedical research in the NHS and supported by the British universities is fascinating and outstanding.

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Use of Social Media in Health Communication: Findings From the Health Information National Trends Survey 2013, 2014, and 2017

Cancer Control ◽

10.1177/1073274819841442 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 107327481984144 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Jinhai Huo ◽

Raj Desai ◽

Young-Rock Hong ◽

Kea Turner ◽

Arch G. Mainous ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Social Media ◽

Health Communication ◽

Sample Size ◽

Health Information ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Medical Information ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

National Trends ◽

Pooled Sample

The number of social media users has increased substantially in the past decade, creating an opportunity for health-care professionals and patients to leverage social media for health communication. This study examines the recent use and predictors of social media for health communication in a nationally representative sample of US adults over time. We used 2013, 2014, and 2017 National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey to identify respondents’ use of social media for sharing health information or exchanging medical information with a health-care professional. We conducted bivariate analysis using the Pearson χ2 test to assess the association of respondents’ basic demographic characteristics as well as health status and the use of social media for health communication. We performed multivariable logistic regression models to examine factors associated with the use of social media for health communication. We identified 4242 respondents (weighted sample size: 343 465 241 [2-year pooled sample]) who used social media for sharing health information and 4834 respondents (weighted sample size: 354 419 489 [2-year pooled sample]) who used social media for exchanging medical information. Multivariable analyses indicated the proportion of respondents who used social media for sharing health information has decreased (odds ratio [OR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-0.85, P = .002), while the use of social media for exchanging medical information with a health-care professional has increased (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.09-3.26, P = .025). The younger population had significantly higher odds of using social media for health communication. The study found no racial/ethnic disparities in the use of social media for health communication. Use of social media for sharing health information has declined, while exchanging medical information with health-care professionals has increased. Future research is needed to determine how to engage the population in social media–based health interventions, particularly for older adults.

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Where else would I look for it? A five-country qualitative study on purposes, strategies, and consequences of online health information seeking

Journal of Public Health Research ◽

10.4081/jphr.2019.1518 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Nicola Diviani ◽

Eva Haukeland Fredriksen ◽

Corine S. Meppelink ◽

Judy Mullan ◽

Warren Rich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Lived Experience ◽

Health Information ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Information Seeking ◽

The Body ◽

Online Health Information ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Ehealth Literacy ◽

Digital Divides

Background. Online health information (OHI) is widely available and consulted by many people in Western countries to gain health advice. The main goal of the present study is to provide a detailed account of the experiences among people from various demographic backgrounds living in high-income countries, who have used OHI. Design and methods. Thematic analysis of 165 qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted among OHI users residing in Australia, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland was performed. Results. The lived experience of people using OHI seem not to differ across countries. The interviews show that searches for OHI are motivated from curiosity, sharing of experiences, or affirmation for actions already taken. Most people find it difficult to appraise the information, leading them to cross-check sources or discuss OHI with others. OHI seems to impact mostly some specific types of health behaviors, such as changes in diet or physical activity, while it only plays a complementary role for more serious health concerns. Participants often check OHI before seeing their GP, but are reluctant to discuss online content with health care personnel due to expected negative reception. Conclusions. This study adds to the body of knowledge on eHealth literacy by demonstrating how OHI affects overall health behavior, strengthens patients’ ability to understand, live with, and prepare themselves for diverse health challenges. The increasing digitalization of health communication and health care calls for further research on digital divides and patient-professional relations. Health care professionals should acknowledge OHI seeking and engage in discussions with patients to enable them to appreciate OHI, and to support shared decision making in health care. The professionals can utilize patient’s desire to learn as a resource for health prevention, promotion or treatment, and empowerment.

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The public’s trust and information brokers in health care, public health and research

Journal of Health Organization and Management ◽

10.1108/jhom-11-2018-0332 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 33 (7/8) ◽

pp. 929-948 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jodyn Platt ◽

Minakshi Raj ◽

Sharon L.R. Kardia

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health System ◽

Information Sharing ◽

Health Information ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Care Providers ◽

Content Type ◽

The Public ◽

Information Brokers

Purpose Nations such as the USA are investing in technologies such as electronic health records in order to collect, store and transfer information across boundaries of health care, public health and research. Health information brokers such as health care providers, public health departments and university researchers function as “access points” to manage relationships between the public and the health system. The relationship between the public and health information brokers is influenced by trust; and this relationship may predict the trust that the public has in the health system as a whole, which has implications for public trust in the system, and consequently, legitimacy of involved institutions, under circumstances of health information data sharing in the future. This paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the authors aimed to examine characteristics of trustors (i.e. the public) that predict trust in health information brokers; and further, to identify the factors that influence trust in brokers that also predict system trust. The authors developed a survey that was administered to US respondents in 2014 using GfK’s nationally representative sample, with a final sample of 1,011 participants and conducted ordinary least squares regression for data analyses. Findings Results suggest that health care providers are the most trusted information brokers of those examined. Beliefs about medical deceptive behavior were negatively associated with trust in each of the information brokers examined; however, psychosocial factors were significantly associated with trust in brokers, suggesting that individual attitudes and beliefs are influential on trust in brokers. Positive views of information sharing and the expectation of benefits of information sharing for health outcomes and health care quality are associated with system trust. Originality/value This study suggests that demonstrating the benefits and value of information sharing could be beneficial for building public trust in the health system; however, trust in brokers of information are variable across the public; that is, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs are associated with the level of trust different individuals have in various health information brokers – suggesting that the need for a personalized approach to building trust.

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Appropriate Technology in Primary Health Care: Evolution and Meaning of WHO's Concept

International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care ◽

10.1017/s0266462300005997 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 103-109 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. Cohen

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Appropriate Technology ◽

World Health ◽

Health Maintenance ◽

The Public ◽

Primary Health ◽

Careful Scrutiny ◽

The World ◽

Definition Of

This article examines the meaning of appropriate technology in the World Health Organization's comprehensive definition of primary care. The author concludes that broad-ranging aspects of health maintenance, such as public health, personal lifestyles, and scientific research, as well as traditional diagnostic and therapeutic practices, need to be subjected to clear and careful scrutiny. It is vital that the results of these technology assessment studies be disseminated as widely as possible to both health care professionals and the public.

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Evidence‐based advocacy: the public roles of health care professionals

The Medical Journal of Australia ◽

10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb02162.x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 189 (9) ◽

pp. 530-530 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bill Williams

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Evidence Based ◽

The Public

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The Dimensions of Tokenism in Patient and Family Engagement: A Concept Analysis of the Literature

Journal of Patient Experience ◽

10.1177/2374373520925268 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 1610-1620

Author(s):

Umair Majid

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

International Association ◽

Concept Analysis ◽

Service Planning ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Power Relationships ◽

Health Service Planning ◽

The Public ◽

Professional Goals

Patient engagement (PE) has become embedded in discussions about health service planning and quality improvement, and the goal has been to find ways to observe the potential beneficial outcomes associated with PE. Patients and health care professionals use various terms to depict PE, for example, partnership and collaboration. Similarly, tokenism is consistently used to describe PE that has gone wrong. There is a lack of clarity, however, on the meanings and implications of tokenism on PE activities. The objective of this concept analysis was to examine the peer-reviewed and gray literature that has discussed tokenism to identify how we currently understand and use the concept. This review discusses 4 dimensions of tokenism: unequal power, limited impact, ulterior motives, and opposite of meaningful PE. These dimensions explicate the different components, meanings, and implications of tokenism in PE practice. The findings of this review emphasize how tokenism is primarily perceived as negative by supporters of PE, but this attribution depends on patients’ preferences for engagement. In addition, this review compares the dimensions of tokenism with the levels of engagement in the International Association of the Public Participation spectrum. This review suggests that there are 2 gradations of tokenism; while tokenism represents unequal power relationships in favor of health care professionals, this may lead to either limited or no meaningful change or change that is primarily aligned with the personal and professional goals of clinicians, managers, and decision-makers.

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