Information seeking among people with manic-depressive illness.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a descriptive theory of the information seeking states of hospitalized people with manic-depressive illness, as the first step in generating a substantive theory of the self-management informational needs and activities of this population.


METHODS
Exploratory, using grounded theory methodology.


METHODS
Predominantly indigent and ethnically-diverse population in one 250-bed, university-managed, county- and state-funded acute psychiatric facility in the Southwestern U.S.A. A convenient sample of 20 women and 13 men hospitalized for manic-depressive illness were interviewed from December 1992 through December 1993.


METHODS
Interviews with participants and review of medical records. Interview transcriptions were analyzed using conceptual coding and the constant comparative method.


RESULTS
The core variable of information-seeking states was acceptance of having manic-depressive illness. Three groups are: information seekers, information receivers, and information rejectors. Seven informational states are: novice, recent acceptor, veteran, passive acceptor, acknowledged denier, acknowledged rejector, and complete rejector. An individual's information-seeking state is not necessarily constant, and may shift to another state depending upon various factors.


CONCLUSIONS
This typology of information-seeking states is the first part of a substantive grounded theory of the self-management informational needs and activities of people trying to cope.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study suggest that patient education should address a person's current information-seeking state. The proposed typology can be used to develop a self-assessment tool for completion by a patient before participating in educational or therapy programs.
Pollack
L E
LE
School of Nursing, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, Houston 77030, USA.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D003717:Denial, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires