Kenneth Lee|Kreshnik Hoti|Jeffery Hughes|Lynne Emmerton
Dr Google and the Consumer: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Navigational Needs and Online Health Information-Seeking Behaviors of Consumers With Chronic Health Conditions
Curtin University|Curtin University|Curtin University|Curtin University
background abundance health information available online provides consumers greater access information pertinent management health conditions particularly important given increasing drive consumerfocused health care models globally especially management chronic health conditions recognition challenges faced lay consumers finding understanding acting health information sourced online paucity literature exploring navigational needs consumers regards accessing online health information existing interventions appear didactic nature unclear whether interventions appeal consumers8217 needs objective goal explore navigational needs consumers chronic health conditions finding online health information within broader context consumers8217 online health informationseeking behaviors potential barriers online navigation also identified methods semistructured interviews conducted adult consumers reported using internet health information least one chronic health condition participants recruited nine metropolitan community pharmacies within western australia well various media channels interviews audiorecorded transcribed verbatim imported qsr nvivo 10 two established approaches thematic analysis adopted first datadriven approach used minimize potential bias analysis improve construct criterion validity theorydriven approach subsequently used confirm themes identified former approach ensure identified themes relevant objectives two levels analysis conducted datadriven theorydriven approaches manifestlevel analysis whereby facevalue themes identified latentlevel analysis whereby underlying concepts identified results conducted 17 interviews data saturation achieved 14th interview identified broad range online health informationseeking behaviors related information discussed consumerhealth professional consultations looking information medication side effects barriers identified included intrinsic barriers limited ehealth literacy extrinsic barriers inconsistency information different online sources navigational needs participants extrinsic nature included health professionals directing consumers appropriate online resources better filtering online health information participants8217 online health informationseeking behaviors reported barriers navigational needs underpinned themes trust patient activation relevance conclusions study suggests existing interventions aimed assist consumers navigating online health information may consumers want perceive need ehealth literacy patient activation appear prevalent concepts context consumers8217 online health informationseeking behaviors furthermore role health professionals guiding consumers quality online health information highlighted