How consumers search for health information.
To date most of the research concerning consumer health information has focused on trust and quality of health information websites. In this research, we observed 48 consumers searching for four health-related topics (some of their own choosing) using Google. Using transaction logs, video screen capture, retrospective verbal protocols and self-reported questionnaires, we examined holistically the consumer's search process. Results indicate significant problems in query formulation and in making efficient selections from results lists.
Toms
Elaine G
EG
Centre for Management Informatics, Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 3J5. etoms@dal.ca
Latter
Celeste
C
D054626:Consumer Health Information; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States