scholarly journals Knowledge translation strategies for sharing evidence-based health information with older adults and their caregivers: findings from a persona-scenario method

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Lokker ◽  
Stephen J. Gentles ◽  
Rebecca Ganann ◽  
Rita Jezrawi ◽  
Irtaza Tahir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Knowledge Translation ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Educational Outreach ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Scenario Method

Abstract Background By understanding the information seeking behaviors of older adults, we can better develop or iterate effective information technologies, such as the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, that provide evidence-based health information to the public. This paper reports health-related information seeking and searching behaviours and provides strategies for effective knowledge translation (KT) to increase awareness and use of reliable health information. Methods We conducted a qualitative study with eighteen older adults using the persona-scenario method, whereby participants created personas and scenarios describing older adults seeking health information. Scenarios were analyzed using a two-phase inductive qualitative approach, with the personas as context. From the findings related to pathways of engaging with health information, we identified targeted KT strategies to raise awareness and uptake of evidence-based information resources. Results Twelve women and six men, 60 to 81 years of age, participated. In pairs, they created twelve personas that captured rural and urban, male and female, and immigrant perspectives. Some scenarios described older adults who did not engage directly with technology, but rather accessed information indirectly through other sources or preferred nondigital modes of delivery. Two major themes regarding KT considerations were identified: connecting to information via other people and personal venues (people included healthcare professionals, librarians, and personal networks; personal venues included clinics, libraries, pharmacies, and community gatherings); and health information delivery formats, (e.g., printed and multimedia formats for web-based resources). For each theme, and any identified subthemes, corresponding sets of suggested KT strategies are presented. Conclusions Our findings underline the importance of people, venues, and formats in the actions of older adults seeking trusted health information and highlight the need for enhanced KT strategies to share information across personal and professional networks of older adults. KT strategies that could be employed by organizations or communities sharing evidence-based, reliable health information include combinations of educational outreach and materials, decision support tools, small group sessions, publicity campaigns, champions/opinion leaders, and conferences.

Knowledge translation strategies for sharing evidence-based health information with older adults and their caregivers: Findings from a co-design study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Lokker ◽  
Rebecca Ganann ◽  
Stephen J. Gentles ◽  
Rita Jezrawi ◽  
Irtaza Tahir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Knowledge Translation ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Educational Outreach ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Rural And Urban

Abstract Background By understanding the information seeking behaviors of older adults, we can better develop or iterate effective information technologies, such as the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, that provide evidence-based health information to the public. This paper reports health-related information seeking and searching behaviours and provides strategies for effective knowledge translation (KT) to increase awareness and use of reliable health information.Methods We conducted a qualitative study with eighteen older adults using a design-thinking approach whereby participants created personas and scenarios describing older adults seeking health information. Scenarios were analyzed using a two-phase inductive qualitative approach, with the personas as context. From the findings related to pathways of engaging with health information, we identified targeted KT strategies to raise awareness and uptake of evidence-based information resources.Results Twelve women and six men, 60 to 81 years of age, participated. In pairs, they created twelve personas that captured rural and urban, male and female, and immigrant perspectives. Some scenarios described older adults who did not engage directly with technology, but rather accessed information indirectly through other sources or preferred nondigital modes of delivery. Two major themes regarding KT considerations were identified: connecting to information via other people and personal venues (people included healthcare professionals, librarians, and personal networks; personal venues included clinics, libraries, pharmacies, and community gatherings); and health information delivery formats, (e.g., printed and multimedia formats for web-based resources). For each theme, and any identified subthemes, corresponding sets of suggested KT strategies are presented.Conclusion Our findings underline the importance of people, venues, and formats in the actions of older adults seeking trusted health information and highlight the need for enhanced KT strategies to share information across personal and professional networks of older adults. KT strategies that could be employed by organizations or communities sharing evidence-based, reliable health information include combinations of educational outreach and materials, decision support tools, small group sessions, publicity campaigns, champions/opinion leaders, and conferences.

Older adults and internet health information seeking

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamer El-Attar ◽  
Jarvis Gray ◽  
Sankaran N. Nair ◽  
Raymond Ownby ◽  
Sara J. Czaja
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Internet Health Information

scholarly journals Lifestyle Segmentation to Explain the Online Health Information–Seeking Behavior of Older Adults: Representative Telephone Survey

10.2196/15099 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. e15099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winja Weber ◽  
Anne Reinhardt ◽  
Constanze Rossmann
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Sociodemographic Variables ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Health Related

Background As a result of demographic changes, the number of people aged 60 years and older has been increasing steadily. Therefore, older adults have become more important as a target group for health communication efforts. Various studies show that online health information sources have gained importance among younger adults, but we know little about the health-related internet use of senior citizens in general and in particular about the variables explaining their online health-related information–seeking behavior. Media use studies indicate that in addition to sociodemographic variables, lifestyle factors might play a role in this context. Objective The aim of this study was to examine older people’s health-related internet use. Our study focused on the explanatory potential of lifestyle types over and above sociodemographic variables to predict older adults’ internet use for health information. Methods A telephone survey was conducted with a random sample of German adults aged 60 years and older (n=701) that was quota-allocated by gender, age, educational status, and degree of urbanity of their place of residence. Results The results revealed that participants used the internet infrequently (mean 1.82 [SD 1.07]), and medical personnel (mean 2.89 [SD 1.11]), family and friends (mean 2.86 [SD 1.21]), and health brochures (mean 2.85 [SD 1.21]) were their main sources of health information. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on values, interests, and leisure time activities revealed three different lifestyle types for adults aged over 60 years: the Sociable Adventurer, the Average Family Person, and the Uninterested Inactive. After adding these types as second-step predictors in a hierarchical regression model with sociodemographic variables (step 1), the explained variance increased significantly (R2=.02, P=.001), indicating that the Average Family Person and the Sociable Adventurer use the internet more often for health information than the Uninterested Inactive, over and above their sociodemographic attributes. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the internet still plays only a minor role in the health information–seeking behavior of older German adults. Nevertheless, there are subgroups including younger, more active, down-to-earth and family-oriented males that may be reached with online health information. Our findings suggest that lifestyle types should be taken into account when predicting health-related internet use behavior.

scholarly journals Literacy, Numeracy, and Health Information Seeking Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Yamashita ◽  
Anthony R. Bardo ◽  
Darren Liu ◽  
Phyllis A. Cummins
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Nationally Representative

Objectives: Health literacy is often viewed as an essential skill set for successfully seeking health information to make health-related decisions. However, this general understanding has yet to be established with the use of nationally representative data. The objective of this study was to provide the first nationally representative empirical evidence that links health information seeking behaviors with health literacy among middle-age to older adults in the United States. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2012/2014 Program for the International Assessment of Adult Literacy (PIAAC). Our analytic sample is representative of adults age 45 to 74 years ( N = 2,989). Results: Distinct components of health literacy (i.e., literacy and numeracy) were uniquely associated with the use of different health information sources (e.g., health professionals, the Internet, television). Discussion: Findings should be useful for government agencies and health care providers interested in targeting health communications, as well as researchers who focus on health disparities.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Individual Coping and the Need to Have and Seek Health Information Among Older Adults: Exploratory Mixed Methods Study

10.2196/15858 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e15858
Author(s):  
Sabine Theis ◽  
Katharina Schäfer ◽  
Dajana Schäfer ◽  
Nicole Jochems ◽  
Verena Nitsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Information Need ◽  
Health Situation ◽  
The Relationship

Background The need to have and seek information shapes the context of computing systems. When it comes to health, individual coping influences human behavior. Therefore, the relationship between individual coping and the need to have and seek health information plays a crucial role in the development of digital health systems. Objective This study aims to examine the relationship between individual coping and the need to have and seek health information among older adults. Methods Questionnaires and semistructured interviews investigated the health information need (HIN) and health information–seeking behavior (HISB) in relation to the individual coping strategies of 26 older Germans. Results The mean age of the interviewed group was 71 years (SD 7). Quantitatively, a trend was found for a negative correlation between the avoidance-oriented coping and HIN (rs=−0.37895; bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrap 95% BCa CI −0.730 to 0.092; P=.05). The qualitative results supported this finding. For some participants, information and exchange was part of dealing with their health situation, whereas others wanted to learn as little as possible to avoid a decline in their health status. The older adults acquired, collected, and exchanged paper-based health data to augment clinical information sources and support information exchange with professionals. Conclusions Individual coping strategies are relevant for the design of digital health systems. They can support older adults in coping with their health situation, although it remains unclear how systems must be designed for people with an avoidance coping strategy to achieve the same acceptance.

scholarly journals I Wouldn’t Search That With My Mobile Phone: Credibility and Trust in OHIRs Among Lower-Income Black Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 509-509
Author(s):  
Christina Harrington ◽  
Amanda Woodward
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Web Searching ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Technology Proficiency

Abstract Online health information resources (OHIRs) such as conversational assistants and smart devices that provide access to consumer health information in the home are promoted as viable options for older adults to independently manage health. However, there is question as to how well these devices are perceived to meet the needs of marginalized populations such as lower-income Black older adults who often experience lower digital literacy or technology proficiency. We examined the experiences of 34 lower-income Black older adults aged 65-83 from Chicago and Detroit with various OHIRs and explored whether conversational resources were perceived to better support health information seeking compared to traditional online web searching. In a three-phase study, participants tracked their experiences with various OHIRs and documented health-related questions in a health diary. Participants were then interviewed about their diaries in focus groups and semi-structured interviews, followed by a technology critique and co-design session to re-envision a more usable and engaging conversational device. We present preliminary results of the themes that emerged from our analysis: cultural variables in health information seeking practices, perceptions of credibility, likelihood of use, and system accessibility. Participants indicated that their trust of different resources depended on the type of information sought, and that conversational assistants would be a useful resource that require less technology proficiency, even among those with lower e-health literacy. Although our findings indicate that familiarity and trust were salient constructs associated with perceptions of OHIRs, these devices may address digital literacy and technology familiarity with certain design considerations.

scholarly journals Lifestyle Segmentation to Explain the Online Health Information–Seeking Behavior of Older Adults: Representative Telephone Survey (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winja Weber ◽  
Anne Reinhardt ◽  
Constanze Rossmann
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Sociodemographic Variables ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Health Related

BACKGROUND As a result of demographic changes, the number of people aged 60 years and older has been increasing steadily. Therefore, older adults have become more important as a target group for health communication efforts. Various studies show that online health information sources have gained importance among younger adults, but we know little about the health-related internet use of senior citizens in general and in particular about the variables explaining their online health-related information–seeking behavior. Media use studies indicate that in addition to sociodemographic variables, lifestyle factors might play a role in this context. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine older people’s health-related internet use. Our study focused on the explanatory potential of lifestyle types over and above sociodemographic variables to predict older adults’ internet use for health information. METHODS A telephone survey was conducted with a random sample of German adults aged 60 years and older (n=701) that was quota-allocated by gender, age, educational status, and degree of urbanity of their place of residence. RESULTS The results revealed that participants used the internet infrequently (mean 1.82 [SD 1.07]), and medical personnel (mean 2.89 [SD 1.11]), family and friends (mean 2.86 [SD 1.21]), and health brochures (mean 2.85 [SD 1.21]) were their main sources of health information. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on values, interests, and leisure time activities revealed three different lifestyle types for adults aged over 60 years: the Sociable Adventurer, the Average Family Person, and the Uninterested Inactive. After adding these types as second-step predictors in a hierarchical regression model with sociodemographic variables (step 1), the explained variance increased significantly (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup>=.02, <i>P</i>=.001), indicating that the Average Family Person and the Sociable Adventurer use the internet more often for health information than the Uninterested Inactive, over and above their sociodemographic attributes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the internet still plays only a minor role in the health information–seeking behavior of older German adults. Nevertheless, there are subgroups including younger, more active, down-to-earth and family-oriented males that may be reached with online health information. Our findings suggest that lifestyle types should be taken into account when predicting health-related internet use behavior.

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