Xiaoman Zhao|Ju Fan|Iccha Basnyat|Baijing Hu
Online Health Information Seeking Using “#COVID-19 Patient Seeking Help” on Weibo in Wuhan, China: Descriptive Study
Renmin University of China|Renmin University of China|James Madison University|Renmin University of China
background first detected wuhan china december 2019 covid19 pandemic stretched medical system wuhan posed challenge states risk communication efforts timely access quality health care information outbreaks infectious diseases effective curtail spread disease feelings anxiety although existing studies extended knowledge online health informationseeking behavior processes motivations rarely findings applied outbreak moreover relatively little recent research people china using internet seeking health information pandemic objective aim study explore people china using internet seeking health information pandemic drawing previous research online health information seeking study asks following research questions covid19 patient seeking help hashtag used patients wuhan seeking health information weibo peak outbreak kinds health information patients wuhan seeking weibo peak outbreak methods using entity identification textual analysis 10908 posts weibo identified 1496 patients covid19 using covid19 patient seeking help explored online health informationseeking behavior results curve hashtag posting provided dynamic picture public attention covid19 pandemic many patients faced difficulties accessing offline health care services general findings confirmed internet used chinese public important source health information lockdown policy found cut patients social support network preventing seeking help family members ability seek information help online especially young children older adult members pandemic high proportion female users seeking health information help parents older adults home searched information included accessing medical treatment managing selfquarantine offline online support conclusions overall findings contribute understanding health informationseeking behaviors outbreak highlight importance paying attention information needs vulnerable groups role social media may play