Health information-seeking behaviour
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Information science |
|---|
| General aspects |
| Related fields and subfields |
Health information-seeking behaviour (HISB), also known as health information seeking, health seeking behaviour or health information behaviour, refers to how people look for information about health and illness.[1] HISB is a key strategy for many people to understand their health problems and to cope with illness.[2] Recently, thanks to the development of the technologies and networks, people have a trend of seeking health information on the Internet. Particularly, when it comes to the following scenarios, people tend to carry out online HISB:[3]
- Encountering health issues
- Received conflicting information
- The cause is relevant to known people (such as family members and friends)
- Out of curiosity
Impact on health
Health information seeking not only affects knowledge but can also change how people behave before, during and after their illness.[6]
