Predictors of Health Information–Seeking Behavior: Systematic Literature Review and Network Analysis

Abstract

Background People engage in health information–seeking behavior to support health outcomes, and being able to predict such behavior can inform the development of interventions to guide effective health information seeking. Obtaining a comprehensive list of the predictors of health information–seeking behavior through a systematic search of the literature and exploring the interrelationship of these predictors are critical first steps in this process. Objective This study aims to identify significant predictors of health information–seeking behavior in the primary literature, develop a common taxonomy for these predictors, and identify the evolution of the concerned research field. Methods A systematic search of PsycINFO, Scopus, and PubMed was conducted for all years up to and including December 10, 2019. Quantitative studies identifying significant predictors of health information–seeking behavior were included. Information seeking was broadly defined and not restricted to any source of health information. Data extraction of significant predictors was performed by 2 authors, and network analysis was conducted to observe the relationships between predictors with time. Results A total of 9549 articles were retrieved, and after the screening, 344 studies were retained for analysis. A total of 1595 significant predictors were identified. These predictors were categorized into 67 predictor categories, with the most central predictors being age, education, gender, health condition, and financial income. With time, the interrelationship of predictors in the network became denser, with the growth of new predictor grouping reaching saturation (1 new predictor identified) in the past 7 years, despite increasing publication rates. Conclusions A common taxonomy was developed to classify 67 significant predictors of health information–seeking behavior. A time-aggregated network method was developed to track the evolution of the research field, showing the maturation of new predictor terms and an increase in primary studies reporting multiple significant predictors of health information–seeking behavior. The literature has evolved with a decreased characterization of novel predictors of health information–seeking behavior. In contrast, we identified a parallel increase in the complexity of predicting health information–seeking behavior, with an increase in the literature describing multiple significant predictors.

Health information-seeking behavior associated with linguistic group membership: latent class analysis of a population-based cross-sectional survey in Italy, August to September 2014

“…Health information-seeking behavior (HISB) refers to a strategy whereby people develop a social and personal sense of health to understand their health problems, reduce uncertainty regarding health status, and cope with illness [ 1 ]. Utilizing recent developments in technologies and networks, people increasingly seek health information on the Internet, particularly when it comes to receiving conflicting health information or when the cause is relevant to family members and friends [ 2 ]. Studies on the characteristics of individuals’ motives for engaging in HISB document the types of health and medical information being sought not only in the context of disease and illness but also in healthy individuals pursuing information to maximize positive health outcomes [ 3 ].…”

The Dispersion of Health Information–Seeking Behavior and Health Literacy in a State in the Southern United States: Cross-sectional Study

“…Over time, information dissemination has transitioned from solely patient-provider interactions to obtaining information through Google searches, web-based communities, and one’s social groups [ 4 ]. The predictors of HISB can be both contextual and personal, such as the environment, sociodemographic variables, or internal beliefs [ 5 ]. The advent of technologies including the internet, smartphones, and social media has prompted a drastic change in how people seek and access health information.…”

Preferences and Experiences of People with Chronic Illness in Using Different Sources of Health Information: Results of a Mixed-Methods Study

“…However, it can be assumed that age plays an important role, especially for the preference for digital information sources. A similar limitation must be made regarding other socio-demographic and socio-economic determinants that have already been found to be significant for information behavior as well as for health literacy in people with chronic illness [ 16 , 18 ]. This should also be taken into account when interpreting the results and should be examined in more detail in future analyses.…”

“…However, to date, most of the results on health information behavior available in literature relate to selected diseases, such as cancer or diabetes (e.g., [ 18 , 30 , 41 ]), using either quantitative or qualitative data. There is a lack of studies, especially for Germany, combining both perspectives to provide insight into the preferences and motives for using different sources of information among people with chronic illness and which shed light on their information management.…”

“…Previous research on health information behavior in general has focused on different strands, such as the type and extend of information sought, the information needs and preferred sources as well as the personal and source-related characteristics affecting health information behavior [18][19][20][21]. In this context, especially the significance of individual information sources has been emphasized in the past: both quantitative and qualitative studies show that doctors particularly are the primary source of health information, but also that the Internet has become increasingly important [21][22][23][24][25][26].…”