Results of a factorial survey investigating the health information seeking behaviors of older adults

Abstract

This paper presents the results of research of an experimental research method, the factorial survey, investigating the health information seeking preferences of older adults (60 years and older). Volunteer subjects from rural, urban, and suburban areas in Ohio participated in this study; 450 subjects responded to health information seeking vignettes (the key feature of factorial surveys) and provided demographic data. Using regression analysis and ANOVA, findings from this study address preferences for the format of materials, information on particular health topics, and, preferences for receiving assistance from information providers such as librarians, nurses, pharmacists, and, doctors. IntroductionHealth information seeking behaviors, including social, economic, educational, and agerelated aspects of those seeking health information, can be studied at many levels. These behaviors can be studied at the level of the individual, the information provider, and the information provider network of relationships, services, and resources. We conducted a 2-part research project to address the health information seeking behaviors of older adults. We examined this issue experimentally with a factorial survey of older adults and with focus groups of library and community health care professionals, and, health literacy specialists.Through use of a factorial survey, we came to a better understanding of individual health information seeking preferences for format, provider, assistance, and content as well as the potential relationships between those preferences and knowledge, skills, and access to health information. The results of the factorial survey are reported in this paper. While this project uses an exemplar of older adults, the research method has the potential to be used to study other groups in order to better understand preferences affected by knowledge, access and skills related to accessing and using health information. The hoped-for result is that health information programs and services, informed by these research findings, will be more effective, more efficient, more outcomes-oriented, and more responsive.There are many efforts across the U.S.A. focusing on eliminating health care disparities. For example, one of the goals of a broadly embraced framework, Healthy People 2010 (U.S. , 2000), is to identify and address health disparities in segments of the American population. Contributing factors to disparities include access to and use of health information. The research presented in this paper, which addresses the health information seeking decisions of older adults, identifies essential health information factors that may contribute to disparate health care as expressed by the preferences of subjects. These factors include literacy skills, health challenges, preferences for information format and provider. Department of Health and Human Services Approach to the ResearchWithin the next twenty years, the United States will be faced with increased pressure on its health care delivery mechanisms as the dramatic ...

Scenarios in information seeking and information retrieval research: A methodological application and discussion

“…In addition, this technique has been used as a complementary tool to anchor survey questions (e.g., Beldad, Jong, & Steehouder, 2010;Hunter, Whiddett, Norris, McDonald, & Waldon, 2009;Stansbury & Ludwick, 2009;Stefl-Mabry, 2003). These studies developed a short scenario, followed by a question asking how the respondent would feel about the situation, or what they would do in the situation, ranking their feelings on a scale provided in the form.…”

“…Scenarios can quickly generate considerable amounts of data from a large participant group because they are often used to answer quantitative-focused research questions, especially when incorporating a survey questionnaire. For example, the survey instrument employed in Stansbury and Ludwick's (2009) study was administered to a total of 450 participants; Beldad et al's (2010) survey attracted 223 respondents.…”