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Positive attitudes and failed queries: an exploration of the conundrums of consumer health information retrieval
- Source :
- International Journal of Medical Informatics. 73:45-55
- Publication Year :
- 2004
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2004.
-
Abstract
- Several studies have found that consumers report a high level of satisfaction with the Internet as a health information resource. Belied by this positive attitude, however, are other studies reporting that consumers were often unsuccessful in searching for health information. In this paper, we present an interview and observation study in which we asked health consumers to search for health information on the Internet after first stating their search goals. Upon the conclusion of the session they were asked to evaluate their searches. We found that many consumers were unable to find satisfactory information when performing a specific query, while in general the group viewed health information retrieval (HIR) on the Internet in a positive light. We analyzed the observed search sessions to determine what factors accounted for the failure of specific searches and positive attitudes, and also discussed potential informatics solutions.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
MEDLINE
Internet privacy
Information Storage and Retrieval
Observation
Health Informatics
Session (web analytics)
Interviews as Topic
World Wide Web
User-Computer Interface
Resource (project management)
Humans
Medicine
Computer Simulation
Medical Informatics Applications
Health Education
Internet
Attitude to Computers
business.industry
Consumer health
Consumer Behavior
Middle Aged
Health information retrieval
Informatics
Female
The Internet
Health information
Positive attitude
business
Attitude to Health
Boston
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 13865056
- Volume :
- 73
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Medical Informatics
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....f66ff72b45899571b48920b47a737c14