Factors Associated with Health Information Seeking, Processing, and Use Among HIV Positive Adults in the Dominican Republic

Abstract

Effective treatment and management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) depend on patients’ ability to locate, comprehend, and apply health information. This study’s purpose was to identify characteristics associated with these skills among HIV positive adults in the Dominican Republic. An information behavior survey was administered to 107 participants then three logistic regressions were conducted to identify characteristics associated with information seeking, processing, and use. Never having cared for someone who was sick was significantly associated with less information seeking, processing, and use. Males were more likely to be active information seekers and those who had attended the clinic for six or fewer years were less likely to actively seek information. Younger individuals had increased odds of higher information processing and those without comor-bidities had increased odds of more information use. Results may inform researchers, organizations, and providers about how patients interact with health information in limited resource settings

What the Rest of the World Should Know About HIV: Perceptions From Adults Living With HIV in the Dominican Republic

“…As previously reported (Stonbraker, Befus, et al, 2016; Stonbraker, Castillo, et al, 2016), the average age of participants ( N = 107) was 40.8 years (range = 19 – 75) with an average time living with HIV of 7.7 years (range = 0.17 – 20). The majority of participants self-identified as heterosexual (88.7%), 2.8% indicated they were men who have sex with men, 2.8% were bisexual, 1.8% were transgender women who have sex with men, and 3.7% reported that they were no longer sexually active.…”

“…This brief research report focuses on a single item from a larger study about the health information behaviors of PLWH, the results of which are reported elsewhere (Stonbraker, Befus, Lerebours Nadal, Halpern, & Larson, 2016; Stonbraker, Castillo, et al, 2016). During survey administration, we asked the question, What things do you want your friends, family, or members of the community to know about HIV?, with the additional prompt, Could you please tell me two things that you wish the rest of the world knew about HIV?…”

The ability to obtain, appraise and understand health information among undergraduate nursing students in a medical university in Chongqing, China

“…Health literacy is regarded as a key factor for improving population health (WHO, ) and it indicates the ability to obtain, appraise and understand health information (Nutbeam, ; Sillence et al., ; Sørensen et al., ; Stonbraker et al., ). As a future service provider for medical and health systems, nursing students will act as a “bridge” between patients and doctors in patients’ health education and health promotion activities.…”

“…It is regarded by the World Health Organization (WHO) (2009) as a key factor for improving population health. The definition of health literacy not only implies the ability of a person to obtain and understand health information but also includes the ability to appraise and use health information to make appropriate health-related decisions (Nutbeam, 2008;Sillence, Briggs, Harris, & Fishwick, 2007;Sørensen et al, 2012;Stonbraker, Befus, Nadal, Halpern, & Larson, 2016). Furthermore, the effect of health literacy on health outcomes begins with the ability to obtain information (Shieh, Mays, Mcdaniel, & Yu, 2009).…”

Priority Topics for Health Education to Support HIV Self‐Management in Limited‐Resource Settings

“…Furthermore, information needs may vary depending on age or gender, or among high‐risk groups (Stonbraker & Larson, ). For instance, in the DR, despite similar HIV prevalence rates among men and women, men are more likely to report higher‐risk sexual behaviors than women (Curtis & Sutherland, ) and are more likely to be active information seekers (Stonbraker, Befus, Lerebours Nadal, Halpern, & Larson, ). This is important to consider in a cultural context where heterosexual transmission of HIV between stable partners is common (Jimenez, Andrade, Raffaelli, & Iwelunmor, ).…”