Contexts and Outcomes of Proxy Online Health Information Seeking: Mixed Studies Review With Framework Synthesis.

Publisher: JMIR Publications Country of Publication: Canada NLM ID: 100959882 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1438-8871 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14388871 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Med Internet Res Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: <2011- > : Toronto : JMIR Publications
Original Publication: [Pittsburgh, PA? : s.n., 1999-

Information Seeking Behavior* ; Social Support*; Humans

Background: High-quality online health information (OHI) can reduce unnecessary visits to health professionals and improve health. One of the ways that people use OHI is to support others with health conditions through proxy OHI seeking. Members of a person's social circle may help them overcome information-seeking barriers and illness challenges. There are several models on proxy information seeking. Yet, we know little about the use and outcomes of OHI on behalf of someone else.
Objective: The objectives of this paper are to explore and revise a framework on the context and outcomes of proxy OHI seeking.
Methods: We conducted a mixed studies literature review integrating qualitative and quantitative evidence with thematic analysis of the findings of 28 studies, followed by framework synthesis incorporating the derived themes.
Results: We explored 4 main themes: (1) characteristics of proxy seekers, (2) context of proxy OHI seeking, (3) use of OHI to provide social support, and (4) outcomes of proxy OHI seeking. Our conceptual framework incorporates these themes and builds on previous work.
Conclusions: By better understanding how people use information together, information providers can adapt the information to meet all users' needs.
(©Reem El Sherif, Pierre Pluye, Fidelia Ibekwe. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 24.06.2022.)

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Canada CIHR

Keywords: health information; information outcomes; information seeking behavior; online health information; online information; proxy information seeking; social support; surrogate seekers

Date Created: 20220624 Date Completed: 20220628 Latest Revision: 20220823

20240105

PMC9270707

10.2196/34345

35749210