Exploring Online Health Information Seeking in Scotland

Online Health Information Seeking (OHIS) has become an area of increasing interest over the last decade. The Internet has enabled the democratisation of health information as knowledge which was previously exclusive to health professionals has now become open access for all. The activity of OHIS has also revealed a digital divide in terms of those who access the Internet for health information. The prevalence of OHIS and the impact it has on patient outcomes and the relationship between health professional and patient is the focus of an on-going body of research outlined in this paper

Association of searching for health-related information online with self-rated health in the European Union.

BACKGROUND: The Internet is widely accessed for health information, but poor quality information may lead to health-worsening behaviours (e.g. non-compliance). Little is known about the health of individuals who use the Internet for health information. METHODS: Using the Flash Eurobarometer survey 404, European Union (EU) citizens aged ≥15 (n = 26 566) were asked about Internet utilisation for health information ('general' or 'disease-specific'), the sources used, self-rated health, and socioeconomic variables. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to assess the likelihood of bad self-rated health and accessing different health information sources (social networks, official website, online newspaper, dedicated websites, search engines). RESULTS: Those searching for general information were less likely to report bad health [odds ratios (OR) = 0.80; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.70-0.92], whilst those searching for disease-specific information were more likely (OR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.07-1.38). Higher education and frequent doctor visits were associated with use of official websites and dedicated apps for health. Variation between EU member states in the proportion of people who had searched for general or disease-specific information online was high. CONCLUSIONS: Searching for general health information may be more conducive to better health, as it is easier to understand, and those accessing it may already be or looking to lead healthier lives. Disease-specific information may be harder to understand and assimilate into appropriate care worsening self-rated health. It may also be accessed if health services fail to meet individuals' needs, and health status is currently poor. Ensuring individuals' access to quality health services and health information will be key to addressing inequalities in health

Serving the Needs of the Latina Community for Health Information

Latinos remain the largest US population with limited health literacy (Andrulis D.P. & Brach, 2007). Concerned with how local media can meet the information needs of underserved audiences, we interviewed Latinas who were pregnant or mothers of young children living in a Spanish speaking community, and surveyed 33 local health professionals. Findings are that Latina women’s most common source of health information was family and friends. They said they tune to Spanish television and radio programs, but gave low grades to news media for health information. Medical professionals agreed that Latinas generally get their health information through friends and family, and rated the media poorly in terms of serving Latinas’ needs. Since the data indicate that the local news media are not serving Latinas’ health information needs as much as they could, we offer recommendations to potentially exploit new technological affordances and suggest expansion of conventional definitions of health literacy

Engaging with patient online health information use: a survey of primary health care nurses

Internet health information is used by patients for health care decision making. Research indicates this information is not necessarily disclosed in interactions with health professionals. This study investigated primary health care nurses’ engagement with patient online health information use along with the respondents’ disclosure of online sources to their personal health care provider. A questionnaire was posted to a random sample of 1,000 New Zealand nurses with 630 responses. Half the respondents assessed patients’ online use (n = 324) and had encountered patients who had wrongly interpreted information. Health information quality evaluation activities with patients indicated the need for nursing information literacy skills. A majority of respondents (71%, n = 443) used online sources for personal health information needs; 36.3% (n = 155) of the respondents using online sources did not tell their personal health care provider about information obtained. This study identifies that there are gaps in supporting patient use but more nursing engagement with online sources when compared with earlier studies

Exploring Online Health Information Seeking in Scotland

Abstract. Online Health Information Seeking (OHIS) has become an area of increasing interest over the last decade. The Internet has enabled the democratisation of health information as knowledge which was previously exclusive to health professionals has now become open access for all. The activity of OHIS has also revealed a digital divide in terms of those who access the Internet for health information. The prevalence of OHIS and the impact it has on patient outcomes and the relationship between health professional and patient is the focus of an on-going body of research outlined in this paper

Exploring Online Health Information Seeking in Scotland

Abstract. Online Health Information Seeking (OHIS) has become an area of increasing interest over the last decade. The Internet has enabled the democratisation of health information as knowledge which was previously exclusive to health professionals has now become open access for all. The activity of OHIS has also revealed a digital divide in terms of those who access the Internet for health information. The prevalence of OHIS and the impact it has on patient outcomes and the relationship between health professional and patient is the focus of an on-going body of research outlined in this paper

Cognitive Distortions: Predictors of Medical Adherence and Health Behaviors Among Women at Risk for Breast Cancer

This study examined the relationship between cognitive distortions and health behaviors among women at risk for breast cancer. Sixty-eight participants completed an online survey consisting of demographic information, the Inventory of Cognitive Distortions (ICD), and the Health Adherence Behavior Inventory (HABIT). Results of the study indicate that health behaviors decrease as thinking becomes more distorted. The data also suggest that various cognitive distortions predict worse adherence, including fortune telling, minimization, and magnification. These findings have implications for the role of clinical psychologists in healthcare settings, and for the utility and implementation of cognitive behavioral interventions to increase early detection and promote prevention strategies among women at risk for breast cancer

Patient Perspectives of Physicians\u27 Compliance Gaining Strategies

This research examined strategies used by physicians for compliance gaining and patient responses to those strategies. Respondents were surveyed regarding their expectations about strategies physicians would use to gain compliance with requests related to changing lifestyle behaviors and how the respondents anticipated they would respond to physicians. Findings revealed that patients did anticipate specific persuasive strategies from physicians and anticipated responding in specific ways. Most respondents expect expertise strategies from physicians and plan to comply. Expertise strategies, however, were also linked with patients who planned to defy or ignore their physicians’ requests. Findings suggest that future research into why patients who intend to comply do not follow through and what strategies may be more effective on patients who do not anticipate compliance would be valuable