Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Oct 18, 2021
Open Peer Review Period: Oct 18, 2021 - Dec 13, 2021
Date Accepted: Mar 21, 2022
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Contexts and Outcomes of Proxy Online Health Information Seeking: A Mixed Studies Review with Framework Synthesis
ABSTRACT
Background:
High quality online consumer health information (OCHI) can reduce unnecessary visits to health professionals and improve health. One of the ways people use OCHI is to support others with health conditions, through proxy OCHI seeking. Members of an individual’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 on the subsequent use and outcomes of OCHI on behalf of someone else.
Objective:
The objectives of this paper are to explore, and to revise a framework on, the context and outcomes of proxy OCHI 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:
Four main themes were explored: characteristics of proxy-seekers, the context of proxy OCHI seeking, the use of OCHI to provide social support, and the outcomes of proxy OCHI 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 information to meet both individual and group needs.
Citation
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Copyright
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