Journal of Education and Health Promotion

A qualitative study of health information‑seeking behavior on the Internet among information technology professionals

Document Type : Original Article

Author

. Priyadarshini Pattath
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The motivation to seek health information on the Internet for individuals has been
varied. The purpose of this paper was to explore the perspectives and experiences about online
health information seeking in information technology (IT) professionals.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A qualitative case study research design was employed to examine
the behavior of 15 IT professionals from a state organization in the East Coast of the United States
of America. Convenience sampling was used to identify the setting, and purposeful sampling was
used to select the participants. A survey questionnaire was used as a recruitment tool, and in‑depth
individual interviews with standardized semi‑structured questions were used to collect data.
RESULTS: Findings illustrated that the Internet was the first source of reference for wellness and
prevention information to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to alleviate and prevent work‑related
musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). The themes that emerged from the study were that the IT
professionals searched the Internet for information to self‑educate about medical conditions, to
maintain fitness, communicate with health‑care professionals, decide their treatment options, and to
make lifestyle modifications such as ergonomic adjustment of their workstation, postural adjustments,
and changing negative health behaviors.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide practical implications for organizations and health
professionals in providing health education to prevent WMSDs as participants sought health
information online to take actions and collaborate with their health‑care professionals and actively
contributed to their medical health decisions. This underscores a valuable opportunity for health‑care
providers and public health officials to become more proactive by providing their patients with quality
health information outside their office through the Internet by referring them to credible website
sources.

Keywords

Health information‑seeking behavior
information technology
internet
work‑related musculoskeletal disorders
1. Jacobs W, Amuta AO, Jeon KC. Health information seeking in the
digital age: An analysis of health information seeking behavior
among US adults. Cogent Soc Sci 2017;3:1.
2. Swoboda CM, Van Hulle JM, McAlearney AS, Huerta TR. Odds of
talking to healthcare providers as the initial source of healthcare
information: Updated cross‑sectional results from the Health
Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). BMC Fam Pract
2018;19:146.
3. Fox S, DugganM. Health Online; 2013.https://www.pewresearch.
org/internet/2013/01/15/health‑online‑2013/.
4. Blackstock OJ, Haughton LJ, Garner RY, Horvath KJ, Norwood C,
Cunningham CO. General and health‑related Internet use
among an urban, community‑based sample of HIV‑positive
women: Implications for intervention development. AIDS Care
2015;27:536‑44.
5. Erdinc O. Upper extremity musculoskeletal discomfort
among occupational notebook personal computer users: Work
interference, associations with risk factors and the use of notebook
computer stand and docking station. Work 2011;39:455‑63.
6. Tiric‑Campara M, Krupic F, Biscevic M, Spahic E, Maglajlija K,
Masic Z, et al. Occupational overuse syndrome (technological
diseases): Carpal tunnel syndrome, a mouse shoulder, cervical
pain syndrome. Acta Inform Med 2014;22:333‑40.
7. Waersted M, Hanvold TN, Veiersted KB. Computer work and
musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and upper extremity:
A systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2010;11:79.
8. Silverstein B, Evanoff B. Musculoskeletal disorders. In: Levy BS,
Wegman DH, Baron SL, Sokas RK, editors. Occupational and
Environmental Health: Recognizing and Preventing Disease
and Injury. New York: Oxford University Press; 2011. p. 335‑65.
9. Chang SJ, Im EO. A path analysis of Internet health information
seeking behaviors among older adults. Geriatr Nurs 2014;35:137‑41.
10. Feinberg I, Frijters J, Johnson‑Lawrence V, Greenberg D,
Nightingale E, Moodie C. Examining Associations between
Health Information Seeking Behavior and Adult Education
Status in the U.S.: An analysis of the 2012 PIAAC data. PLoS One
2016;11:e0148751.
11. Filabadi ZR, Estebsari F, Milani AS, Feizi S, Nasiri M. Relationship
between electronic health literacy, quality of life, and self‑efficacy
in Tehran, Iran: A community‑based study. J Educ Health Promot
2020;9:175.
12. Santoro E, Castelnuovo G, Zoppis I, Mauri G, Sicurello F. Social
media and mobile applications in chronic disease prevention and
management. Front Psychol 2015;6:567.
13. Weaver JB 3rd, Mays D, Weaver SS, Hopkins GL, Eroglu D,
Bernhardt JM. Health information‑seeking behaviors, health
indicators, and health risks. Am J Public Health 2010;100:1520‑5.
14. Suziedelyte A. How does searching for health information on the
Internet affect individuals’ demand for health care services? Soc
Sci Med 2012;75:1828‑35.
15. Zamani M, Soleymani MR, Afshar M, Shahrzadi L, Zadeh AH.
Information‑seeking behavior of cardiovascular disease patients
in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences hospitals. J Educ Health
Promot 2014;3:83.
16. Pattath P. Ergonomic preferences and future perspectives to
prevent work‑related musculoskeletal disorders in information
technology professionals: A qualitative study. Occup Health Sci
2018;2:279‑98.
17. Rolfes K. Efficacy of Internet‑Based Home Exercise Programs:
A Multiple Case Study Analysis. Medical University of South
Carolina; 2013. Rolfes, K. (2013). Efficacy of internet‑based
home exercise programs: A multiple case study analysis.
(Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest
Dissertations and Theses. (UMI No. 3570166).
18. Knowles M S. The Modern Practice of Adult Education:
Andragogy versus Pedagogy. New York: Cambridge; 1970.
19. PapenU. Informal, incidental and ad hoc: The information‑seeking
and learning strategies of health care patients. Lang Educ
2010;26:105‑19.
20. Maxwell JA. Qualitative Research Design: An Interactive
Approach. California: Sage; 2013.
21. Miles M, Huberman A. Qualitative Data Analysis: A Sourcebook
of New Methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage; 1994.
22. Fox S, Jones S. Americans’ Pursuit of Health Takes Place Within
a Widening Network of Both Online and Offline Sources.
Pew Internet and American Life Project; 2009. Available
from: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2009/06/11/
the‑social‑life‑of‑health‑information/.
23. Finney Rutten LJ, Blake KD, Greenberg‑Worisek AJ, Allen SV,
Moser RP, Hesse BW. Online health information seeking among
US adults: Measuring progress toward a healthy people 2020
objective. Public Health Rep 2019;134:617‑25.
24. Zhang HK. Health information seeking of low socioeconomic
status Hispanic adults using smartphones. J Inform Manage
2015;67:542‑61.
25. Lambert SD, Loiselle CG. Health information seeking behavior.
Qual Health Res 2007;17:1006‑19.
26. Karimi N, Saadat‑Gharin S, Tol A, Sadeghi R, Yaseri M,
Mohebbi B. A problem‑based learning health literacy intervention
program on improving health‑promoting behaviors among girl
students. J Educ Health Promot 2019;8:251.
27. Wright M, Grabowsky A. The role of the adult educator in helping
learners access and select quality health information on the
internet. New Dir Adult Contin Educ 2011;130:79‑88.
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 6
July 2021
Pages 1-8

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us