• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2231-2238
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• 2014

This study investigated how self-rated health and socioeconomic status are associated with behaviour of cancer survivors regarding desire for information. For this association, we compared survivors who did not seek information about cancer with those who did. We examined how sociodemographic, socioeconomic, cancerrelated, and health information factors are associated with self-rated health (SRH) by health information seeking/avoiding behavior in a survey of 502 post-treatment cancer patients. In the information seeking group, all four factors exhibited significant relationships with SRH. SRH values were significantly high for women (p<0.05), non-Hispanic White (p<0.05), and educated (p<0.01) participants, and for those who had high self-efficacy to use health information by themselves (p<0.01). Furthermore, in the information avoiding group, not only were there no significant relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and SRH, but there were negative associations between their attitude/capacity and the SRH. In terms of communication equity, the promotion of information seeking behavior can be an effective way to reduce health disparities that are caused by social inequalities. Information avoiding behavior, however, does not exhibit a negative contribution toward the relationship between SRH and SES. Information seeking behavior was positively associated with SRH, but avoiding behavior was not negatively associated. We thus need to eliminate communication inequalities using health intervention to support information seeking behavior, while simultaneously providing support for avoiders.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.1-11
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine health information seeking behavior of people with cancer in terms of information seeking or avoiding behavior and the differences of the two groups in demographic and disease variables. Methods: Data were collected from October 21 to December 5 in 2013 from out-patient clinics of a university affiliated hospital in Suwon, Korea. One hundred (100) patients with cancer were participated in this study. Health Information National Trends Survey Questionnaires (National Cancer Institute, 2007) was used. Results: Three quarters (n=77) of the participants were in health information seeking group while 23% were in health information avoiding group. Participants who were female, higher education were more likely to seek health information than their counter parts. Among participants, a considerable number of cancer patients intentionally avoided information due to either the lack of accessibility of information source or the lack of credibility of information from the sources. Conclusion: Significant differences in gender and educational level were found in the two groups. Different approaches for both groups were necessary to increase information seeking behavior. And barriers of the information avoiding group should be considered in designing interventions to fill the gap between seekers and avoiders.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.231-243
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze factors affecting health promotion behavior among nursing students according to health information seeking behavior. Methods: The study design was a descriptive survey and questionnaires were collected from 240 nursing students who have studied in nursing colleges located in "J" province. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent t-test, One-way ANOVA, $Scheff{\grave{e}}$ test, Pearson Correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: In Model I, general characteristics influenced of 17.6% of health promotion behavior factors. Health status, selection criteria and frequency of information search were statistically useful as influencing of health promotion behavior factors. In addition, in model II health information seeking behavior influenced of 18.1% of health promotion behavior factors. Conclusion: The results indicate that the health information seeking behaviors proved the influence on health promotion behavior of nursing students.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.217-224
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• 2007

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among gender, information-seeking styles, and high risk behavior in Korean adults. Methods: A survey utilizing a structured questionnaire was used to examine the relationships of the study variables. Eight hundred fifty six adults were recruited and this group consisted of 403 females and 453 males. Information seeking style and high risk behavior were measured by Miller Behavioral Style Scale revised by Zurren and Wolfs, and High Risk Behaviors checklist developed by Lee, respectively. Results: Differences between gender were significant in information-seeking styles and high risk behavior. Monitoring and blunting scores were both higher in female than male, and high risk behavior was higher in males than females. The blunting style was positively related to high-risk behavior and the monitoring style was negatively related to high risk behavior. Conclusion: To intervene with high risk behavior effectively, individual differences such as gender and information seeking style should be considered. In addition, the research about well-designed health information support is needed in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.177-202
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• 2020

In this study the author examines the health information seeking behavior of older adults from the perspective of cognitive load. Using a qualitative method, based on ground theory, data were collected using in-depth interviews. Twenty-eight participants were participating older adults living in G community city, South Korea who experienced seeking health information. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a qualitative thematic coding framework. Three themes describing older adults' health information seeking behaviors were focused: intrinsic, extraneous, and germane cognitive load. The findings are geared towards the context of older adults' information seeking to support an understanding of successful information seeking behaviors in this population and to contribute to their health and well-being. The intent is to present information on current research in the field of Library and Information Science and to demonstrate how a cognitive load approach can be used to address the problems of older adults' health information seeking behaviors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6499-6504
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• 2014

Health information-seeking behavior (HISB) is active need-fulfillment behavior whereby health information is obtained from diverse sources, such as the media, and has emerged as an important issue within the transforming medical environment and the rise of medical consumers. However, little is known about the factors that affect HISB and its associations, and the health outcome of HISB. The aim of this study was to examine individual and social contextual factors associated with HISB and to systematically review their effects on health status among post-treatment cancer patients. Individual determinants of HISB included demographic factors, psychosocial factors, perceived efficacy and norms, and health beliefs. Contextual determinants of HISB encompassed community characteristics, neighborhood social capital, and media advocacy. Improving through factors on these two levels, HISB raised individuals' self-care management skills and medical treatment compliance, and enhanced shared decision-making and medical treatment satisfaction. Moreover, because HISB can differ according to individuals' social contextual conditions, it can give rise to communication inequalities. Because these can ultimately lead to health disparities between groups, social interest in HISB and balanced HISB promotion strategies are necessary.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.403-411
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors associated with internet health information seeking behavior of younger children's parents. The subjects included 108 parents with infants and children, the survey was conducted with structured questionnaires about attitudes to internet health information, e-health literacy, and internet health information seeking behavior. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Scheffé test, and multiple regression analysis. As a results of the study, perceived usefulness and information utilization was founded to factors associated with internet health information seeking behavior of younger children's parents. Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to develop a program to provide health information and manage utilization by considering the characteristics, usefulness, and information utilization of infants and their parents.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.343-364
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• 2020

Historically, mothers have been noted as active health information seekers, reflecting their roles as health mangers and caregivers for their family members. However, previous studies have focused on health-related information behavior among mothers in native populations or mothers of children with specific diagnoses. To fill this research gap, this study focused on health information behavior among mothers of healthy infants and toddlers. Using Wilson's (1997) information-seeking model, this study aimed to uncover the relationships between mothers' demographic characteristics and their health information source use. Online surveys were completed by 851 mothers: 255 U.S.-born mothers, 296 Korean-born mothers, and 300 Korean immigrant mothers living in the United States. Results indicated that there were statistically significant relationships between mothers' nine demographic characteristics (mother's age, education level, household income, employment status, the number of children, years living in the U.S. (or Korea), fluency in speaking English, size of household, housing status) and their health information source use. Based on the results, the implications for information professionals at diverse organizations are discussed when they provide health information services to this specific population.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.161-181
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• 2017

The present study aimed at investigating health information seeking behaviors of health information consumers who changed their health behaviors by using mobile health applications according to the dynamic stages of change. For this purpose, the study analyzed the changes of perception, health information needs and seeking behaviors of health information consumers in each stage by employing Stages of Change as a theoretical framework. A total of 30 college students participated in this study to change health behaviors such as smoking or alcohol cessation, and regular exercise, while using health applications for 3 months; then written interviews were conducted with these students based on their experiences. Findings indicated that the study participants used diverse information sources, including social media and the Internet, seeking for different types of sources of information according to information needs. Above all, the health information needs and seeking behaviors examined in active utilization of health applications by consumers in the stage of action suggest the implications of health information services, particularly through health applications. In addition, stress management and relapse that consumers experienced while attempting health behavior changes, and the positive and negative effects of behavior changes inform health information providers of insights for supporting consumers' changes of health behaviors.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.23-37
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• 2022

The pandemic of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has contributed more challenges for mothers as the family's primary caregiver in overcoming the widespread infection. Pandemic-related information is essential for mothers to reduce uncertainty as well as to maintain the health of family members during this unprecedented situation. Adopting the framework of the Situational Theory of Problem Solving, this study extends the theory by, first, testing the mediating role of COVID-19 anxiety on mothers' information seeking and information forwarding, referred to as active communication action of problem solving, as well as preventive behavior; and second, by predicting the effect of information seeking on preventive behavior. Referring to an online survey from 371 Indonesian mothers, the findings suggest that in terms of direct effect, only problem recognition was found to have no significant effect on situational motivation. The results suggest that Indonesian mothers perceive COVID-19 as personally relevant so that they are motivated to solve the problem by seeking and forwarding related information. In addition, COVID-19 anxiety was found to play a significant role in predicting information seeking, information forwarding, and preventive behavior. The result of this study is expected to give insights for risk communicators and health professionals in Indonesia in communicating COVID-19, particularly to mothers.