Of seekers and nonseekers: Characteristics of Covid‐19‐related information‐seeking behaviors. Issue 2 (28th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Link, Elena; Baumann, Eva; Czerwinski, Fabian; Rosset, Magdalena; Suhr, Ralf
• Is Part Of: World medical & health policy. Volume 14:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 271
• Page End: 289
• Publication Date: 2022-03-28
• Subjects: Covid‐19 -- frequent seeking -- information overload -- information seeking -- informational inequalities -- non‐seeking -- overexposure; Medical policy -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1002/wmh3.509
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2153-2028

Abstract

Abstract: During health crises like the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid‐19) pandemic, it is crucial that individuals are able and willing to adequately respond to information. Individuals who deliberately seek information have an enhanced capacity to act on it and are capable of informed assessments of risks and self‐protective behaviors. In contrast, overexposure to Covid‐19 news as well as non‐seeking can constitute information‐related inequalities and hamper individuals' coping with the health crisis. Having this global health communication challenge in mind, our research aims to understand what characterizes non‐, medium, and frequent seekers, considering sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, health status, affective risk responses, efficacy assessments, trust in information sources, and satisfaction with information. This study is based on data of the second wave of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) Germany. Among 2602 participants, analysis revealed that 23.3% of the respondents did not actively seek information about Covid‐19, while 34.3% of them intensively monitored information. Nonseekers, compared to medium and frequent seekers, were characterized by a lower socioeconomic status, lower affective risk responses, lower perceived information‐related self‐efficacy, and lower trust in information sources. These findings provide indications for strategic health approaches and can guide initiatives to address adequate use of health information. Key Points: Identifying and characterizing groups differing in their frequency of Covid‐19 information seeking is relevant since being able and willing to adequately respond to information is crucial for combating health crises. 23.3% of respondents of a German representative study did not actively seek information, while 34.3% intensively monitored information about Covid‐19. Medium and frequent seekers of Covid‐19‐related information show similar preference patterns regarding the used sources, with public broadcasting being the preferred source of information about Covid‐19. Nonseekers, compared to medium and frequent seekers, were characterized by a lower socioeconomic status (SES), lower affective risk responses, lower perceived information‐related self‐efficacy, and lower trust in information sources. Planners of informational interventions, health communicators, as well as health professionals, need to be aware of the profiles of nonseekers as well as frequent seekers to find adequate strategies to overcome barriers and design adequate supportive information.