Search

One of the important factors that play a fundamental role in people’s information behavior is psychological factors. The aim of the current research is to identify the psychological factors that impact users’ health information-seeking behavior through a systematic review. Innovation in this work emphasizes the use of a systematic approach to identify psychological factors that influence individuals’ information behavior. By employing a systematic method, this research can have high scientific value and provides greater confidence in identifying and describing psychological factors related to information behavior. The research method of this study was carried out using a systematic review method. After searching in WoS, PubMed, and Scopus databases, 4162 articles were reviewed, after removing repetition and applying article selection criteria, 31 articles were selected for analysis. In this article, a systematic review of the Prisma flowchart tool has been utilized. The Prisma flowchart is a valuable instrument for ensuring methodological transparency and facilitating the reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. It provides a structured framework for outlining the various stages of the review process, including study identification, screening, eligibility assessment, data extraction, and synthesis. By employing the Prisma flowchart, researchers can enhance the rigor and reproducibility of their systematic reviews, thereby promoting evidence-based decision making in various fields of study. The findings reveal that out of 31 articles, 28 were surveys, and 3 were descriptive studies. Furthermore, one article employed an intervention methodology, targeting community members, pregnant women, or patients as the statistical population. The research findings highlight anxiety, uncertainty, and avoidance of information as the most commonly identified psychological variables influencing Health information-seeking behavior. Psychological factors play an important role in the health information behavior of information users in different societies; however, in the published articles in the field of health information behavior, more attention has been paid to information carriers and less attention has been paid to the psychological characteristics of people, which originate from the human psyche and mind. The importance of dealing with non-communicable diseases has been emphasized in the “Research and Technology Policies and Priorities” documents. These documents highlight disease management, self-care, and the role of education and information in disease control and reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases. Therefore, it is essential that planners and policymakers can take important steps by focusing on these factors in order to improve the quality of information acquisition. Also, this work provides the possibility for researchers to study the information in future research with more knowledge by knowing the existing gaps in the field of psychologically effective factors on information behavior

Background: The proper planning to help the health information-seeking behavior (HISB), as well as promoting its quantitative and qualitative level among nursing students increases educational efficiency and enables provide appropriate services to patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the HISB of nursing students in the process of obtaining information about the emerging disease of COVID-19 in Isfahan city., Materials and Method: The present cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Isfahan´ s faculties of nursing and educational hospitals. The research sample included 448 students who met the inclusion criteria, using convenience sampling. Lenz's HISB questionnaire was used to collect information. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences statistical software version 20, using descriptive and inferential statistics, with confidence interval = 95%., Results: The results indicate a statistically significant relationship between the age and marital status of students with the overall score of the HISB of nursing students ( P < 0.05). Regarding the study, information was mostly obtained from "social media" (43.7%) although the participants more trusted in "health experts" (57.5%). The results of the present study indicated that the students often searched for "disease symptoms" (38.8%) and "epidemiological issues" (22.5%)., Discussion: "Internet sites and search engines" and "social media" provide quick access to information for users, which is one of the reasons for favoring these sources. However, they can be a platform for disseminating false and invalid information. Thus, other reliable sources such as the Ministry of Health and Medical Education should play a greater role in creating content on social media., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)

BACKGROUND: The motivation to seek health information on the Internet for individuals has been varied. The purpose of this paper was to explore the perspectives and experiences about online health information seeking in information technology (IT) professionals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative case study research design was employed to examine the behavior of 15 IT professionals from a state organization in the East Coast of the United States of America. Convenience sampling was used to identify the setting, and purposeful sampling was used to select the participants. A survey questionnaire was used as a recruitment tool, and in-depth individual interviews with standardized semi-structured questions were used to collect data. RESULTS: Findings illustrated that the Internet was the first source of reference for wellness and prevention information to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to alleviate and prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The themes that emerged from the study were that the IT professionals searched the Internet for information to self-educate about medical conditions, to maintain fitness, communicate with health-care professionals, decide their treatment options, and to make lifestyle modifications such as ergonomic adjustment of their workstation, postural adjustments, and changing negative health behaviors. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide practical implications for organizations and health professionals in providing health education to prevent WMSDs as participants sought health information online to take actions and collaborate with their health-care professionals and actively contributed to their medical health decisions. This underscores a valuable opportunity for health-care providers and public health officials to become more proactive by providing their patients with quality health information outside their office through the Internet by referring them to credible website sources.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to predict health information-seeking behavior (HISB) components based on health anxiety among users of public libraries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was a descriptive-correlational study. The statistical population consisted of users of public libraries. Data collection tools included the HISB questionnaire and the Short Form of Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI). RESULTS: The results indicated that health anxiety was a significant predictor of the components of HISB. The illness likelihood had a direct relationship with the components of the need for health information and the purposefulness of health information seeking, and it was inversely related to barriers to obtaining health information. In addition, the preoccupation with illness was directly related to the components of the need for health information, the diversity of health information sources, the time of referring to health information sources, the purposefulness of health information seeking, and evaluation of reasons for referring to the library. CONCLUSION: Among the components of health anxiety, preoccupation to the disease has the highest role in the emergence of users' information-seeking behavior.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: One of the methods for involving breast cancer patients in their own treatment is to provide them with credible and simple information. To provide this information, it is first necessary to investigate health information-seeking behaviors of these patients including their information needs, sources, barriers, and attitudes regarding health information. METHODS: This is an applied type study using survey method. The statistical population included female breast cancer patients referring to Seyed-Al-Shohada Hospital of Isfahan (60 patients). Data gathered through questionnaire. RESULTS: “Self-care,” “emotional-psychological support information,” and “treatment length and chance of relapse” were the most sought-after health information by patients. “Brochure and catalog provided by hospital,” “other cancer patients,” and “physicians and nurses” were the most important information sources. “High cost of information sources,” “Lack of response from treatment personal (physicians and nurses),” and “lack or trust in website information” were the most important information-seeking barriers. Regarding attitude, participants stated that health information can help them in areas such as “controlling their conditions,” “adapting to their conditions,” “stress and anxiety control,” and “preforming their social roles” and “hopefulness.” CONCLUSION: Credible and relevant information can help patients to seek their treatment with renewed motivation and energy. This information should be provided for the patients from various sources such as brochures and websites according to their information-seeking abilities and health literacy with low cost. The knowledge of library and medical information experts can be used for evaluation and creation of easy-to-understand information sources.

Background: The motivation to seek health information on the Internet for individuals has been varied. The purpose of this paper was to explore the perspectives and experiences about online health information seeking in information technology (IT) professionals., Materials and Methods: A qualitative case study research design was employed to examine the behavior of 15 IT professionals from a state organization in the East Coast of the United States of America. Convenience sampling was used to identify the setting, and purposeful sampling was used to select the participants. A survey questionnaire was used as a recruitment tool, and in-depth individual interviews with standardized semi-structured questions were used to collect data., Results: Findings illustrated that the Internet was the first source of reference for wellness and prevention information to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to alleviate and prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The themes that emerged from the study were that the IT professionals searched the Internet for information to self-educate about medical conditions, to maintain fitness, communicate with health-care professionals, decide their treatment options, and to make lifestyle modifications such as ergonomic adjustment of their workstation, postural adjustments, and changing negative health behaviors., Conclusion: The results of this study provide practical implications for organizations and health professionals in providing health education to prevent WMSDs as participants sought health information online to take actions and collaborate with their health-care professionals and actively contributed to their medical health decisions. This underscores a valuable opportunity for health-care providers and public health officials to become more proactive by providing their patients with quality health information outside their office through the Internet by referring them to credible website sources., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)

Introduction: This study aimed to predict health information-seeking behavior (HISB) components based on health anxiety among users of public libraries., Materials and Methods: This research was a descriptive-correlational study. The statistical population consisted of users of public libraries. Data collection tools included the HISB questionnaire and the Short Form of Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI)., Results: The results indicated that health anxiety was a significant predictor of the components of HISB. The illness likelihood had a direct relationship with the components of the need for health information and the purposefulness of health information seeking, and it was inversely related to barriers to obtaining health information. In addition, the preoccupation with illness was directly related to the components of the need for health information, the diversity of health information sources, the time of referring to health information sources, the purposefulness of health information seeking, and evaluation of reasons for referring to the library., Conclusion: Among the components of health anxiety, preoccupation to the disease has the highest role in the emergence of users' information-seeking behavior., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2019 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)