Explaining Online Information Seeking Behaviors in People With Different Health Statuses: German Representative Cross-sectional Survey (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Worldwide, the internet is an increasingly important channel for health information. Many theories have been applied in research on online health information seeking behaviors (HISBs), with each model integrating a different set of predictors; thus, a common understanding of the predictors of (online) HISB is still missing. Another shortcoming of the theories explaining (online) HISB is that most existing models, so far, focus on very specific health contexts such as cancer. Therefore, the assumptions of the Planned Risk Information Seeking Model (PRISM) as the latest integrative model are applied to study online HISB, because this model identifies the general cognitive and sociopsychological factors that explain health information seeking intention. We shift away from single diseases and explore cross-thematic patterns of online HISB intention and compare predictors concerning different health statuses as it can be assumed that groups of people perceiving themselves as ill or healthy will differ concerning their drivers of online HISB. Considering the specifics of online HISB and variation in individual context factors is key for the development of generalizable theories. OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to contribute to the development of the concept of online HISB in 2 areas. First, this study aimed to explore individual-level predictors of individuals’ online HISB intention by applying the postulates of PRISM. Second, we compared relevant predictors of online HISB in groups of people with different health statuses to identify cross-thematic central patterns of online HISB. METHODS Data from a representative sample of German internet users (n=822) served to explain online HISB intentions and influencing patterns in different groups of people. The applicability of the PRISM to online HISB intention was tested by structural equation modeling and multigroup comparison. RESULTS Our results revealed PRISM to be an effective framework for explaining online HISB intention. For online HISB, attitudes toward seeking health information online provided the most important explanatory power followed by risk perceptions and affective risk responses. The multigroup comparison revealed differences both regarding the explanatory power of the model and the relevance of predictors of online HISB. The online HISB intention could be better explained for people facing a health threat, suggesting that the predictors adopted from PRISM were more suitable to explain a problem-driven type of information-seeking behavior. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that attitudes toward seeking health information online and risk perceptions are of central importance for online HISB across different health-conditional contexts. Predictors such as self-efficacy and perceived knowledge insufficiency play a context-dependent role—they are more influential when individuals are facing health threats and the search for health information is of higher personal relevance and urgency. These findings can be understood as the first step to develop a generalized theory of online HISB.

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Air pollution in China: health information seeking and protective behaviors

Health Promotion International ◽

10.1093/heapro/daaa017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 1495-1506

Author(s):

Qinghua Yang ◽

Shiwen Wu

Keyword(s):

Health Information ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Mainland China ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Health Information Seeking ◽

Chinese People ◽

Protective Behaviors ◽

Predicting Factors

Abstract Haze has become one of the most life-threatening problems in China. Chinese people become more dependent on receiving health information from social media, especially WeChat, which shapes their health perceptions and behaviors. Despite the prevalence of health information-seeking behavior (HISB) on WeChat, the predicting factors and consequences of Chinese people’s haze HISB using WeChat remain unclear. To fill this gap, a hypothesized model was proposed under the risk perception attitude framework and tested with a longitudinal web-based survey of Chinese people residing in Mainland China, to understand the antecedents and behavioral outcomes of HISB on WeChat. The results from the structural equation modeling showed that perceived risk significantly predicted haze HISB on WeChat, which predicted the intention of wearing PM2.5 mask but not reducing outdoor exercises. The efficacy beliefs of both protective behaviors were not significant predictor of haze HISB. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

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Correlates of Older Adults’ E-Health Information-Seeking Behaviors

Gerontology ◽

10.1159/000521251 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Sara Pourrazavi ◽

Kamiar Kouzekanani ◽

Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi ◽

Shahrzad Bazargan-Hejazi ◽

Mina Hashemiparast ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Health Information ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Positive Attitude ◽

Perceived Usefulness ◽

Online Information ◽

Health Information Seeking ◽

Information Seeking Behaviors

Introduction: The Internet is an important source for health information and a medium for older adults’ empowerment in health decision-making and self-caring. Therefore, we aimed to identify the potential motivators and probable barriers of e-health information-seeking behaviors (e-HISB) among older Iranian adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study assessed the usefulness of self-efficacy, perceived encouragement, positive attitude toward e-HISB, perceived usefulness, challenges of being visited by physicians, and perceived barriers in predicting e-HISB in a sample of 320 older adults in Tabriz, Iran. Results: The self-efficacy for online information seeking, positive attitude toward e-HISB, and perceived usefulness increased the odds of e-HISB by 12.00%, 24.00%, and 15.00%, respectively. In addition, e-health literacy, conflicting information, distrust of online information, and web designs that were not senior-friendly were the major barriers to e-HISB. Discussion/Conclusion: The theoretical and practical implications of the motivators and barriers of e-HISB can be instrumental in designing and executing programs aimed at improving e-health literacy among older adults especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Health Information Seeking Behaviors of Ethnically Diverse Adolescents

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health ◽

10.1007/s10903-013-9803-y ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 652-660 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Anastasia E. Okoniewski ◽

Young Ji Lee ◽

Martha Rodriguez ◽

Rebecca Schnall ◽

Alexander F. H. Low

Keyword(s):

Health Information ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Ethnically Diverse ◽

Health Information Seeking ◽

Information Seeking Behaviors ◽

Ethnically Diverse Adolescents

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Intention to View Health TV Programs in South Korea: An Application of the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking

Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly ◽

10.1177/1077699016689466 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 94 (2) ◽

pp. 526-551 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hye-Jin Paek ◽

Mideum Choi ◽

Thomas Hove

Keyword(s):

Health Information ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Health Knowledge ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Comprehensive Model ◽

South Korean ◽

Korean Adults ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Practical Implications

As people have become increasingly concerned about their health, programs about health have proliferated on South Korean television. This study’s purpose is to identify the factors associated with and processes through which Korean adults intend to view health TV programs. The comprehensive model of information seeking (CMIS) was tested using structural equation modeling that was fitted with survey data from a nationally representative sample of 1,020 South Korean adults. Results indicate that the demographic antecedents of being female and older adult and the psychological antecedents of being health conscious and health literate significantly predicted the degree to which people would perceive health TV programs to be useful. Among the information carrier factors of health TV programs, utility was directly related to intention to view, while trust in health information on TV was only indirectly related to intention to view. For theoretical implications, we suggest further conceptual and operational refinement of CMIS. For practical implications, we highlight the importance of motivational and utility factors in predicting people’s intention to view health TV programs. Finally, this study stresses the importance of TV as a viable health information provider that can reduce health information gaps and help people (particularly older adults, the poor, and the less educated) to improve their health knowledge and health behaviors.

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Rural Men’s Health, Health Information Seeking, and Gender Identities: A Conceptual Theoretical Review of the Literature

American Journal of Men s Health ◽

10.1177/1557988316649177 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 863-876 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Bradley Hiebert ◽

Beverly Leipert ◽

Sandra Regan ◽

Jacquelyn Burkell

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Information ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Men’S Health ◽

Men's Health ◽

Healthy Population ◽

Health Information Seeking ◽

Gender Identities ◽

Information Seeking Behaviors

Beginning as early as 2009, recent shifts in Canadian health care delivery indicate that access to health information is essential to promote and maintain a healthy population. It is important to understand how and where various populations, such as underresourced rural populations, access health information so that public health agencies can develop and deliver appropriate information with, for, and in these contexts. There is a paucity of research that specifically examines how rural Canadian men seek health information; therefore, this review aimed to conceptualize this process based on three dynamic key constructs: health patterns of rural Canadians, health information–seeking behaviors, and rural gender identities. This conceptual theoretical literature review included 91 articles at the intersection of these three constructs. Discussion focuses on how residing in a rural region influences men’s health and health care access. Health information–seeking behaviors are discussed in terms of social networks and framed with a rural context. Connell’s theory of masculinity provides a useful approach to dissecting how rural men’s gender identities influence their health attitudes, and how such attitudes are embedded in rural social and cultural norms. Each major construct—health in rural Canada, health information seeking, and rural gender identities—is discussed to highlight how specific embodiments of masculinity may promote and inhibit men’s health information–seeking and positive health behaviors.

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EDUCATION, LITERACY, NUMERACY AND HEALTH INFORMATION SEEKING IN LATER LIFE

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1174 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S322-S322

Author(s):

Takashi Yamashita ◽

Anthony R Bardo ◽

Roberto J Millar ◽

Shalini Sahoo ◽

Phyllis Cummins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Health Information ◽

Information Seeking ◽

Information Sources ◽

Later Life ◽

Health Information Seeking ◽

Education And Health ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Information Seeking Behaviors

Abstract Health information plays a critical role for health promotion and maintenance in later life. While health information seeking is primarily driven by need (e.g., health), significantly less is known about the roles of education and health-literacy. Thus, we examine complex pathways that link health information seeking behaviors with education and health literacy (decomposed into general literacy and numeracy), and how these pathways differ by health status among a nationally representative sample of Americans age 50 and older (n = 2,750). Data come from the 2012/2014 Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies. Multi-group structural equation models were used to examine the use of eight health information sources (newspapers, magazines, internet, radio, TV, books, friends/family, and health professionals) by health status (good vs. poor). Findings showed that literacy and numeracy are significant mediators of the relationship between education and health professional as an information source. Additionally, the mediation effects on health professionals by literacy status [indirect-effect (good vs. poor health) = 0.48 vs. 2.13, p < 0.05] and numeracy [indirect-effect (good vs. poor health) = -0.47 vs. -1.81, p < 0.05] were significantly moderated by health. At the same time, no moderated mediation effect was observed in the use of any other information sources. This study provides some of the first nationally representative evidence regarding how education functions through health literacy components to shape health information seeking behaviors by health status. Explanations and implications for differing effects of education, literacy, and numeracy on health information seeking in later life were evaluated.

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