Where people look for online health information

LaValley, Susan; Kiviniemi, Marc T.; Gage‐Bouchard, Elizabeth A.

doi:10.1111/hir.12143

Cited by 61 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…LaValley et al [102] reported that almost 3/4 of Americans use commercially sponsored websites to satisfy their health information requirements, but stressed how different website types have different reasons for sponsoring health information, which may affect the website’s content and design. Hu and Sundar [103] showed that websites are preferred to bulletin boards, home pages, and blogs, and credibility was strongly associated with users’ perceptions of the relevance of the message associated to a certain source.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trust and Credibility in Web-Based Health Information: A Review and Agenda for Future Research

Sbaffi¹,

Rowley²

2017

J Med Internet Res

395

266

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BackgroundInternet sources are becoming increasingly important in seeking health information, such that they may have a significant effect on health care decisions and outcomes. Hence, given the wide range of different sources of Web-based health information (WHI) from different organizations and individuals, it is important to understand how information seekers evaluate and select the sources that they use, and more specifically, how they assess their credibility and trustworthiness.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to review empirical studies on trust and credibility in the use of WHI. The article seeks to present a profile of the research conducted on trust and credibility in WHI seeking, to identify the factors that impact judgments of trustworthiness and credibility, and to explore the role of demographic factors affecting trust formation. On this basis, it aimed to identify the gaps in current knowledge and to propose an agenda for future research.MethodsA systematic literature review was conducted. Searches were conducted using a variety of combinations of the terms WHI, trust, credibility, and their variants in four multi-disciplinary and four health-oriented databases. Articles selected were published in English from 2000 onwards; this process generated 3827 unique records. After the application of the exclusion criteria, 73 were analyzed fully.ResultsInterest in this topic has persisted over the last 15 years, with articles being published in medicine, social science, and computer science and originating mostly from the United States and the United Kingdom. Documents in the final dataset fell into 3 categories: (1) those using trust or credibility as a dependent variable, (2) those using trust or credibility as an independent variable, and (3) studies of the demographic factors that influence the role of trust or credibility in WHI seeking. There is a consensus that website design, clear layout, interactive features, and the authority of the owner have a positive effect on trust or credibility, whereas advertising has a negative effect. With regard to content features, authority of the author, ease of use, and content have a positive effect on trust or credibility formation. Demographic factors influencing trust formation are age, gender, and perceived health status.ConclusionsThere is considerable scope for further research. This includes increased clarity of the interaction between the variables associated with health information seeking, increased consistency on the measurement of trust and credibility, a greater focus on specific WHI sources, and enhanced understanding of the impact of demographic variables on trust and credibility judgments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trust and Credibility in Web-Based Health Information: A Review and Agenda for Future Research

Sbaffi¹,

Rowley²

2017

J Med Internet Res

395

266

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“…Studies have reported that health information available on the Internet is sometimes scientifically incomplete or inadequate [16,17]. When the health information obtained from the Internet is of questionable quality, it may negatively influence the doctor-patient relationship [18,19]. The wide variability of resources on the Internet and the commercial interest of some providers can cause confusion to the user and make it difficult to locate accurate and reliable health information [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Predicts Online Health Information-Seeking Behavior Among Egyptian Adults? A Cross-Sectional Study

et al. 2017

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BackgroundOver the last decade, the Internet has become an important source of health-related information for a wide range of users worldwide. Yet, little is known about the personal characteristics of Egyptian Internet users who search for online health information (OHI).ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to identify the personal characteristics of Egyptian OHI seekers and to determine any associations between their personal characteristics and their health information-seeking behavior.Methods This cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted from June to October 2015. A Web-based questionnaire was sent to Egyptian users aged 18 years and older (N=1400) of a popular Arabic-language health information website. The questionnaire included (1) demographic characteristics; (2) self-reported general health status; and (3) OHI-seeking behavior that included frequency of use, different topics sought, and self-reported impact of obtained OHI on health behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis.ResultsA total of 490 participants completed the electronic questionnaire with a response rate equivalent to 35.0% (490/1400). Regarding personal characteristics, 57.1% (280/490) of participants were females, 63.4% (311/490) had a university level qualification, and 37.1% (182/490) had a chronic health problem. The most commonly sought OHI by the participants was nutrition-related. Results of the multiple regression analysis showed that 31.0% of the variance in frequency of seeking OHI among Egyptian adults can be predicted by personal characteristics. Participants who sought OHI more frequently were likely to be female, of younger age, had higher education levels, and good self-reported general health.ConclusionsOur results provide insights into personal characteristics and OHI-seeking behaviors of Egyptian OHI users. This will contribute to better recognize their needs, highlight ways to increase the availability of appropriate OHI, and may lead to the provision of tools allowing Egyptian OHI users to navigate to the highest-quality health information.

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“…Dissemination of evidence, means of access and the effectiveness of that access are all explored in this quarter's issue of the Health Information and Libraries Journal.…”

Section: In This Issue…mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…'s mixed method study. Similarly, LaValley et al's study exploring consumer's experiences of their online search for health information found that different types of web sites shape users' online information‐seeking experiences and levels of frustration! It seems the continued efforts of librarians and healthcare professionals is needed to provide training to help consumers recognise and select web sites using established guidelines and quality criteria.…”

Section: In This Issue…mentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge Management in healthcare libraries: the current picture

Hopkins

2017

Health Info Libraries J

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Knowledge management has seen something of a resurgence in attention amongst health librarians recently. Of course it has never ceased to exist, but now many library staff are becoming more involved in organisational knowledge management, and positioning themselves as key players in the sphere. No single model of knowledge management is proliferating, but approaches that best fit the organisation's size, structure and culture, and a blending of evidence based practice and knowledge sharing. Whatever it is called and whatever models are used, it's clear that for librarians and information professionals, the importance of putting knowledge and evidence into practice, sharing knowledge well and capturing it effectively, are still what we will continue to do.

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Where people look for online health information

Abstract: There is a need for continued efforts by librarians and health care professionals to train seekers of online health information to select websites using established guidelines and quality criteria.

Cited by 61 publications

References 34 publications

Trust and Credibility in Web-Based Health Information: A Review and Agenda for Future Research

Trust and Credibility in Web-Based Health Information: A Review and Agenda for Future Research

What Predicts Online Health Information-Seeking Behavior Among Egyptian Adults? A Cross-Sectional Study

Knowledge Management in healthcare libraries: the current picture

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