Diabetes-related information-seeking behaviour: a systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundInformation-seeking behaviour is necessary to improve knowledge on diabetes therapy and complications. Combined with other self-management skills and autonomous handling of the disease, it is essential for achieving treatment targets. However, a systematic review addressing this topic is lacking. The aims of this systematic review were to identify and analyse existing knowledge of information-seeking behaviour: (1) types information-seeking behaviour, (2) information sources, (3) the content of searched information, and (4) associated variables that may affect information-seeking behaviour.MethodsThe systematic review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) requirements. MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CCMed, ERIC, Journals@OVID, Deutsches Ärzteblatt and Karlsruher virtueller Katalog (KvK) databases were searched. Publications dealing with information-seeking behaviour of people with diabetes mellitus published up to June 2015 were included. A forward citation tracking was performed in September 2016 and June 2017. Additionally, an update of the two main databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL) was conducted, considering studies published up to July 2017. Studies published in languages other than English or German were excluded, as well as letters, short reports, editorials, comments and discussion papers. A study selection and the critical appraisal of the selected studies were performed independently by two reviewers. A third reviewer was consulted if any disagreement was found. Data extraction and content analysis were performed using selected dimensions of Wilson’s ‘model of information behaviour’.ResultsTwenty-six studies were included. Five ‘types of information-seeking behaviour’ were identified, e.g. passive and active search. The ‘Internet’ and ‘healthcare professionals’ were the most frequently reported sources. ‘Diet’, ‘complications’, ‘exercise’ and ‘medications and pharmacological interactions’ were the most frequently identified content of information. Seven main categories including associated variables were identified, e.g. ‘socioeconomic’, ‘duration of DM’, and ‘lifestyle’.ConclusionThe systematic review provides a valuable overview of available knowledge on the information-seeking behaviour of people with diabetes mellitus, although there are only a few studies. There was a high heterogeneity regarding the research question, design, methods and participants. Although the Internet is often used to seek information, health professionals still play an important role in supporting their patients’ information-seeking behaviour. Specific needs of people with diabetes must be taken into consideration.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42016037312 Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13643-017-0602-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

What should governments be doing to prevent diabetes throughout the life course?

“…One systematic review found that older adults and adolescents alike prefer online media as their source for information on diabetes, although patients with diabetes wanted the online information to be verified by their medical expert (e.g. GP or dietitians) [96]. Not all elderly people have the necessary skills to use digital technologies.…”

Exploring the Determinants of Online Health Information-Seeking Behavior Using a Meta-Analytic Approach

“…Therefore, considering the rapidly growing number of online health users, it is of great significance to understand the key factors of online health information-seeking behavior, which is valued by most scholars for improving users' healthcare. According to information behavior models, the main categories of intervening variables of online health information-seeking behavior (OHISB) include psychological factors, demographic factors, role-related or interpersonal factors and environmental factors [4,5]. Therefore, the key factors, including 17 variables in this meta-analysis, are classified into four parts based on this categorization method.…”

“…The first part is the demographic characteristic variables, which involve age, education, income, and gender. The second part refers to cognitive factors, which are defined by the users making decisions based on the perception of things and reflect users cognitive and emotional characteristics, as mentioned in previous studies, including perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived behavioral control, perceived risk, perceived benefit and perceived cost [5]. The third category is internal factors that reflect the impact of differences in individual characteristics of consumers on OHISB, containing self-efficacy, attitude, Internet experience, health anxiety, and trust.…”

Information needs and information seeking behaviour of people with dementia and their non-professional caregivers: a scoping review

“…Ongoing searching is "where active searching has already established the basic framework of knowledge, but where occasional continuing search is carried out to update or expand one's framework" (pg 3). Passive attention is where "information acquisition may take place without intentional seeking" (pg 3) (29). We selected Wilson's model over other models of information behaviour as it offered a broad summary of the context of the information need of the seeker, the type of searching employed and the information sources utilised, and was not focused on the information seeking process.…”