1. Health Information Processing and Symptom Management in a Cross-Cultural Setting: Insights from IBD Patients.
- Author
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Zhong, Bu, Xie, Wenjing, Davis Kempton, Stefanie, Zhi, Min, and Zhao, Junzhang
- Subjects
IRRITABLE colon treatment ,MEDICAL protocols ,SOCIAL media ,DIGITAL technology ,SCALE analysis (Psychology) ,CRONBACH'S alpha ,T-test (Statistics) ,HEALTH ,CULTURE ,AFFINITY groups ,INFORMATION resources ,INFORMATION technology ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,SEVERITY of illness index ,EMOTIONS ,PATIENT care ,GASTROENTEROLOGY ,STRUCTURAL equation modeling ,SOCIAL learning theory ,CHRONIC diseases ,CAREGIVERS ,SOCIAL support ,NEEDS assessment ,COMPARATIVE studies ,TRANSCULTURAL medical care ,INFORMATION-seeking behavior ,REGRESSION analysis - Abstract
The affordances of social media, have significantly transformed how patients seek and process health information online, including those with chronic diseases like irritable bowel disease (IBD). Few studies have explored how information processing may impact symptom management. Guided by social cognitive theory, this study investigates how Chinese and U.S. patients (N = 838) process health information in a cross-cultural setting and the impact on symptom management. It finds that efficient information processing improves treatment understanding and symptom management for IBD patients, regardless of their cultural backgrounds. It also reveals a U-shaped quadratic relationship between IBD severity and emotional and peer support, indicating varying support needs at different IBD stages. These findings provide valuable insights for healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers in designing interventions for chronic diseases. The study underscores the importance of recognizing the dynamics of health information processing and the need for a more nuanced approach to patient support and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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