Exploring psychological variables in users' health information-seeking behavior: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Health Information Behavior
• Psychology
• Systematic Review

Background:

• Psychological factors are critical determinants of individuals' information behavior.
• Existing literature often overlooks psychological characteristics in favor of information carriers.
• Understanding these factors is vital for effective health information dissemination and disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically identify and analyze the psychological factors influencing users' health information-seeking behavior.
• To highlight the scientific value of a systematic approach in understanding psychological influences on information behavior.
• To inform policymakers and researchers about the psychological dimensions of health information acquisition.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review was conducted using data from Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus.
• A total of 4162 articles were initially screened, with 31 selected for analysis after applying inclusion/exclusion criteria.
• The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flowchart tool was utilized for methodological transparency.

Main Results:

• The review identified anxiety, uncertainty, and information avoidance as the most prevalent psychological variables affecting health information-seeking behavior.
• Out of the 31 analyzed articles, 28 were survey-based, and 3 were descriptive studies.
• One study employed an intervention methodology targeting specific populations like community members or patients.

Conclusions:

• Psychological factors play a substantial, yet often underemphasized, role in health information behavior.
• There is a need to integrate psychological considerations into health information strategies and policies.
• This systematic review identifies research gaps and provides a foundation for future studies on psychological influences in health information seeking.