The information needs and behaviour of the Egyptian elderly living in care homes: An exploratory study. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mansour, Essam
• Is Part Of: IFLA journal. Volume 47:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 548
• Page End: 558
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Information-seeking behaviour -- information needs -- elderly people -- information sources -- Egypt -- qualitative study; Comparative librarianship -- Periodicals; International librarianship -- Periodicals; Library cooperation -- Periodicals; Library science -- Periodicals; 020.9
• DOI: 10.1177/0340035221991563
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0340-0352

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the information-seeking behaviour of the Egyptian elderly, including their information needs. A sample of 63 elderly people living in care homes was taken. It was divided into five focus groups. Of the 63 elderly people, 40 were men (63.5%) and 23 women (36.5%). Almost half (47.6%) ranged in aged from 61 to 70. About a quarter (23%) of them held a high school diploma. The highest percentage (28.6%) was labelled as average-income people. The highest percentage (60.3%) was also found to be widows or widowers. The types of information used most by the Egyptian elderly related to physical, medical/health, social, rational and recreational needs. Their information sources varied between formal and informal sources. Nearly two-thirds (63.5%) of them showed that limited knowledge, lack of interest, poor information awareness, aging, loneliness and health problems were the most significant obstacles they faced when seeking information.