[Development and validation of a health information-seeking behavior questionnaire for patients with chronic...

To develop a health information-seeking behavior (HISB) questionnaire for patients with chronic diseases and evaluate its reliability and validity.

Based on Wilson's information behavior model, a preliminary questionnaire was developed through literature review, team discussions, two rounds of expert consulta-tions, and a pilot survey. A convenience sample of 368 patients with chronic diseases was recruited from medical institutions in Hangzhou, Jinhua, Lishui, Ningbo, Taizhou, and Wenzhou of Zhejiang Province, between March-May 2023 and August-September 2025. The dimension of health information-seeking channels was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Item analysis for the other three dimensions was performed using item-total correlation and critical ratio methods. Reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's α coefficient and split-half reliability. Content validity was assessed by expert ratings, and structural validity was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

The final questionnaire comprised 30 items across four dimensions: health information needs, health information-seeking channels, health information search and acquisition, and health information evaluation. The overall Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.970, and the split-half reliability was 0.781. The scale-level content validity index (S-CVI) was 0.830, and the item-level content validity index (I-CVI) ranged from 0.890 to 1.000. EFA extracted three common factors with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 75.181%. CFA indicated a good model fit.

The HISB questionnaire developed in this study demonstrates good reliability and validity. It can serve as a reliable and valid tool to assess HISB among patients with chronic diseases, providing a basis for healthcare professionals to develop targeted health education interventions.