Information Seeking Behavior on COVID-19 Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Iran

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the information-seeking behavior about COVID-19 among older adults in northern Iran. Two hundred-fifty three older adults living in Rasht, northern Iran, were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Most older adults obtained information about COVID-19 from television, friends, and acquaintances. They relied less on special patient associations and the Ministry of Health telephone system. The use of social networks, the Ministry of Health telephone system, the Ministry of Health text message system, and friends and acquaintances for obtaining information about COVID-19 were significantly higher in people aged 60 to 70 years than in people aged >70 years. The use of newspapers/magazines to get information about COVID-19 was significantly higher in men than women. The use of websites, social networks, physicians, other health care workers, friends and acquaintances, newspapers/magazines, and special patients’ associations for obtaining information about COVID-19 was significantly higher in people with tertiary education than in others. Older adults were more satisfied receiving information about COVID-19 from nurses and physicians. Therefore, it is recommended that policymakers and health managers pay special attention to developing health programs and social media programing to educate older adults about COVID-19 and access to the right media for accurate information.