CITATION: Health information-seeking behavior among people living with the two common chronic diseases in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). A systematic review and meta-analysis. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241302241
Getanew Aschalew Tesfa, Abel Desalegn Demeke, Mesafint Zewold, Habtamu Setegn Ngusie.
Objective: The main aim of this review was to systematically collect and summarize the available evidence on health information-seeking behavior among people living with the two common types of chronic diseases [diabetes or cancer] in LMICs.
Methods: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and forward and backward citations from included studies...
Results: A total of 4281 articles were retrieved, with ten studies meeting the eligibility criteria for qualitative synthesis and only seven studies were eligible for the meta-analysis... Based on the sub-group analysis, it was found that 55% (95% CI: 29.9-79.4) of cancer patients and 40% (95% CI: 36.9%-43.9%) of DM patients sought out health-related information. In studies conducted before 2015, the level of health information seeking was 49%, increasing to 52% (95% CI: 41.0%-62.2%) after 2015.
Conclusion: The overall health information seeking behavior among diabetes and cancer patients has increased over time, but remains relatively low, with only nearly half actively seeking information. The findings also emphasize that patients require health-related information on various topics. Health educators and health professionals should consider this diversity when developing interventions and educational materials to provide patients with the most comprehensive information and education regarding their healthcare issues.
COMMENT (NPW):
The review 'was conducted based on the following three predefined questions.
What are the available pieces of evidence on health information-seeking behavior among people living with chronic diseases in LMICs?
What is the extent of health information-seeking behavior among people with chronic diseases in LMICs?
What is the content of health-related information needed by chronic disease patients?'
'It was found that 55% (95% CI: 29.9-79.4) of cancer patients and 40% (95% CI: 36.9%-43.9%) of DM patients sought out health-related information'. But what does this actually mean 'to seek out information'? We do now know where, when and how they sought information. Do they specifically mean searching for information online? And we do not know whether the information they found was reliable (representative of the available evidence) and whether it was relevant to their individual needs (for example, presented in a way that could be readily understood and acted upon).
Also, it's curious that the study collated diabetes and cancer. Arguably it might be helpful to look in more depth at information needs and behaviour for diabetes and cancer as two separate studies, which might then be compared?
I have invited the authors to join us.
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org
