A comparative mixed methods study on health information seeking among US‐born/US‐dwelling, Korean‐born/US‐dwelling, and Korean‐born/Korean‐dwelling mothers

Abstract

More knowledge and a better understanding of health information seeking are necessary, especially in these unprecedented times due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. Using Sonnenwald's theoretical concept of information horizons, this study aimed to uncover patterns in mothers' source preferences related to their children's health. Online surveys were completed by 851 mothers (255 US‐born/US‐dwelling, 300 Korean‐born/US‐dwelling, and 296 Korean‐born/Korean‐dwelling), and supplementary in‐depth interviews with 24 mothers were conducted and analyzed. Results indicate that there were remarkable differences between the mothers' information source preference and their actual source use. Moreover, there were many similarities between the two Korean‐born groups concerning health information‐seeking behavior. For instance, those two groups sought health information more frequently than US‐born/US‐dwelling mothers. Their sources frequently included blogs or online forums as well as friends with children, whereas US‐born/US‐dwelling mothers frequently used doctors or nurses as information sources. Mothers in the two Korean‐born samples preferred the World Wide Web most as their health information source, while the US‐born/US‐dwelling mothers preferred doctors the most. Based on these findings, information professionals should guide mothers of specific ethnicities and nationalities to trustworthy sources considering both their usage and preferences.

A systematic review of information source preference research

“…Information source preference research is primarily based on this theory to construct a holistic picture of a group's information source horizon. This study found that the information horizon theory, after the development of Sonnenwald (1999) and Savolainen and Kari (2004), could effectively understand people's information-seeking behavior and source preferences, and it would have a greater potential for future research on information-seeking behavior (Lee and Smith, 2022). However, as a core theory of information source preference research and a theory of the field itself, it still has insufficient application in the existing studies, with only 6.47% of studies applying information horizon theory.…”

“…For example, Savolainen (2010) identified 22 potential information sources when home buyers seek information based on the information horizon theory and summarized the criteria of information source preferences such as the content of information, accessibility, usability, user characteristics and situation. Lee and Smith (2022) constructed the information source horizons of three groups of mothers in different regions seeking health information for their children based on the information horizon theory and compared the differences in the prioritization of information sources among the three groups. Information poverty theory provides a basis for exploring explanations of the information source preferences of specific populations.…”

“…They perceived family, friends and teachers as closer and more trustworthy and thus a quick source of relevant and high-quality information. Lee and Smith (2022) highlighted the importance of information quality in their study on mothers seeking health information for their children. Thus, the content and quality of information are the main criteria people consider when selecting information sources.…”

Communicating shared situational awareness in times of chaos: Social media and theCOVID‐19 pandemic

“…Social media, such as forums, microblogging, and social networking, are Internet‐based applications built on the technological and ideological foundations of Web 2.0 that offer real‐time information and can significantly influence people's attitudes, beliefs, and decisions (Chipidza & Yan, 2022; Lee & Smith, 2022; Varathan et al, 2017).…”

“…Social media platforms have greatly improved accessibility to public health information, emotional support, and surveillance, and have influenced health policy development (Chang et al, 2021; Lee & Smith, 2022). Public health systems have adopted social media worldwide to increase awareness, communicate health interventions, and serve as a vital surveillance tool (Kass‐Hout & Alhinnawi, 2013; Lyson et al, 2019; Stellefson et al, 2020).…”