Consumer Satisfaction with Online Health Information Retrieval: A Model and Empirical Study

BACKGROUND Digitalization and the increasing availability of online information have changed the way in which information is searched for and retrieved by the public and by health professionals. The technical developments in the last two decades have transformed the methods of information retrieval. Although systematic evidence exists on the general information needs of specialists, and in particular, family physicians (FPs), there have been no recent systematic reviews to specifically address the needs of FPs and any barriers that may exist to accessing online health information. OBJECTIVE This review aims to provide an up-to-date perspective on the needs of FPs in searching, retrieving, and using online information. METHODS This systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies searched a multitude of databases spanning the years 2000 to 2020 (search date January 2020). Studies that analyzed the online information needs of FPs, any barriers to the accessibility of information, and their information-seeking behaviors were included. Two researchers independently scrutinized titles and abstracts, analyzing full-text papers for their eligibility, the studies therein, and the data obtained from them. RESULTS The initial search yielded 4541 studies for initial title and abstract screening. Of the 144 studies that were found to be eligible for full-text screening, 41 were finally included. A total of 20 themes were developed and summarized into 5 main categories: individual needs of FPs before the search; access needs, including factors that would facilitate or hinder information retrieval; quality needs of the information to hand; utilization needs of the information available; and implication needs for everyday practice. CONCLUSIONS This review suggests that searching, accessing, and using online information, as well as any pre-existing needs, barriers, or demands, should not be perceived as separate entities but rather be regarded as a sequential process. Apart from accessing information and evaluating its quality, FPs expressed concerns regarding the applicability of this information to their everyday practice and its subsequent relevance to patient care. Future online information resources should cater to the needs of the primary care setting and seek to address the way in which such resources may be adapted to these specific requirements.

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Online Health Information Consumers’ Learning across Health-Related Search Tasks from the Perspective of Retrieval Platform Switching (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.34524 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yijing Chen ◽

Hanming Lin ◽

Jin Zhang ◽

Yiming Zhao

Keyword(s):

Information Retrieval ◽

Health Information ◽

Information Search ◽

Health Knowledge ◽

Online Health Information ◽

Related Information ◽

Search Tasks ◽

Health Related ◽

Platform Switching ◽

Information Consumers

BACKGROUND Online health information retrieval has been a top choice for acquiring health information and knowledge by millions worldwide. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate consumers’ modification of retrieval platform switch paths across health-related search tasks and learning via such a change. METHODS A lab user experiment was designed to obtain data on consumers’ health information search behavior. Participants accomplished health-related information search tasks. Screen movements were recorded by EV screen-recording software. The participants underwent in-depth interviews immediately after finishing the tasks. Screen recordings and interview data were both coded and analyzed. RESULTS Three types of learning, including the similar transfer learning, optimizing learning, and SERP-guided learning were identified based on five change patterns of retrieval platform switch paths adopted by health information consumers from task 1 to task 2. Health information consumers’ retrieval platform switch based on information usefulness evaluation. And they accessed different amounts and types of health knowledge from different retrieval platforms. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that health information consumers exhibit learning both through retrieval platform switching and the knowledge they consume during the search process. This facilitates the assessment of a certain retrieval platform’s usefulness by measuring the amount and types of health knowledge in each search result. This study also contributes to the enhancement of consumers’ health information retrieval abilities, and to helping optimize health information retrieval platforms by increasing their exposure to consumers and increasing the matching degree between knowledge types and consumer needs.

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The Online Health Information Needs of Family Physicians: Systematic Review of Qualitative and Quantitative Studies

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/18816 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (12) ◽

pp. e18816

Author(s):

Piet van der Keylen ◽

Johanna Tomandl ◽

Katharina Wollmann ◽

Ralph Möhler ◽

Mario Sofroniou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Information Retrieval ◽

Health Information ◽

Full Text ◽

Information Needs ◽

Family Physicians ◽

Online Health Information ◽

Online Information ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Quantitative Studies

Background Digitalization and the increasing availability of online information have changed the way in which information is searched for and retrieved by the public and by health professionals. The technical developments in the last two decades have transformed the methods of information retrieval. Although systematic evidence exists on the general information needs of specialists, and in particular, family physicians (FPs), there have been no recent systematic reviews to specifically address the needs of FPs and any barriers that may exist to accessing online health information. Objective This review aims to provide an up-to-date perspective on the needs of FPs in searching, retrieving, and using online information. Methods This systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies searched a multitude of databases spanning the years 2000 to 2020 (search date January 2020). Studies that analyzed the online information needs of FPs, any barriers to the accessibility of information, and their information-seeking behaviors were included. Two researchers independently scrutinized titles and abstracts, analyzing full-text papers for their eligibility, the studies therein, and the data obtained from them. Results The initial search yielded 4541 studies for initial title and abstract screening. Of the 144 studies that were found to be eligible for full-text screening, 41 were finally included. A total of 20 themes were developed and summarized into 5 main categories: individual needs of FPs before the search; access needs, including factors that would facilitate or hinder information retrieval; quality needs of the information to hand; utilization needs of the information available; and implication needs for everyday practice. Conclusions This review suggests that searching, accessing, and using online information, as well as any pre-existing needs, barriers, or demands, should not be perceived as separate entities but rather be regarded as a sequential process. Apart from accessing information and evaluating its quality, FPs expressed concerns regarding the applicability of this information to their everyday practice and its subsequent relevance to patient care. Future online information resources should cater to the needs of the primary care setting and seek to address the way in which such resources may be adapted to these specific requirements.

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