title: Factors Associated with Health Information Seeking, Processing, and Use Among HIV Positive Adults in the Dominican Republic.
abstract: Effective treatment and management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) depend on patients' ability to locate, comprehend, and apply health information. This study's purpose was to identify characteristics associated with these skills among HIV positive adults in the Dominican Republic. An information behavior survey was administered to 107 participants then three logistic regressions were conducted to identify characteristics associated with information seeking, processing, and use. Never having cared for someone who was sick was significantly associated with less information seeking, processing, and use. Males were more likely to be active information seekers and those who had attended the clinic for six or fewer years were less likely to actively seek information. Younger individuals had increased odds of higher information processing and those without comorbidities had increased odds of more information use. Results may inform researchers, organizations, and providers about how patients interact with health information in limited resource settings.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Nursing, 617 W. 168th St. Rm 330, New York, NY, 10032, USA. Slb2201@Cumc.Columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0049-4269
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stonbraker
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Montina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Befus
authors.affiliation: Clínica de Familia La Romana, La Romana, Dominican Republic.
authors.forename: Leonel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lerebours Nadal
authors.affiliation: Clínica de Familia La Romana, La Romana, Dominican Republic.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Nursing, 617 W. 168th St. Rm 330, New York, NY, 10032, USA.|Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Developing country; HIV/AIDS; Health information; Health literacy; Information behavior