How health information is received by diabetic patients?
BACKGROUND
Knowledge of correct information-seeking behavior by the patients can provide health specialists and health information specialists with valuable information in improving health care. This study aimed to investigate the passive receipt and active seeking of health information by diabetic patients.


METHODS
A survey method was used in this research on 6426 diabetic patients of whom 362 patients were selected by a no percentage stratified random sampling. The Longo information-seeking behavior questionnaire was used to collect data and they were analyzed by SPSS 20 software.


RESULTS
The most common information source by diabetic patients was practitioners (3.12). The minimum usage among the information sources were from charity organizations and emergency phone lines with a usage of close to zero. The amount of health information gained passively from each source has the lowest average of 4.18 and usage of this information in making health decision has the highest average score of 5.83. Analysis of the data related to active seeking of information showed that knowledge of available medical information from each source has the lowest average score of 3.95 and ability in using the acquired information for making medical decisions has the highest average score of 5.28. The paired t-test showed that differences between passive information receipt (41.68) and active information seeking (39.20) considered as statistically significant (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Because diabetic patients are more passive information receivers than active information seekers, the health information must be distributed by passive means to these patients. In addition, information-seeking behavior during different time periods should be investigated; to identify more effective distribution of health information.
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran ; Department of Medical Librarianship and Information Science in School of Management and Medical Informatics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Firoozeh
F
Zare-Farashbandi
Department of Medical Librarianship and Information Science in School of Management and Medical Informatics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Anasik
A
Lalazaryan
Department of Medical Librarianship and Information Science in School of Management and Medical Informatics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Alireza
A
Rahimi
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Akbar Hassan
AH
Zadeh
Active information seeking; Iran; Isfahan; diabetes; health information-seeking behavior; passive information receipt