Health information seeking behavior is a widely discussed topic in the field of information studies. However, the current study is about observing and evaluating the efficiency of health information seeking behavior through E-Health service and devices. The main reason that motivated the researcher to carry out the current research was high cost of healthcare services in Finland. It is expected that health information obtained through electronic or online sources would help people to improve their health conditions. Therefore, this thesis is an empirical study on observing E-Health information seeking behavior and evaluating the efficiency of E-Health service and devices. In order to estimate the efficiency of E-Health service and products, this study considered some criteria generated by previous studies. These criteria were employed in the current study as indicators of the health information seeking efficiency. The current study developed a customized model of health information seeking behavior based on the general model of information seeking behavior. The model contains some further criteria to measure the efficiency of the information seeking process. The primary tool to collect data were a multiple-choice questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed through two main methods, namely hard copy and online. The participants in this study were either Finnish older adults who were over 50 years old, or other persons who were responsible for providing health information for them. The results of this study show that using E-Health service and products has neither a positive effect on improving the health condition of patients, nor does it motivate people to a healthier lifestyle, or make them feel more satisfied. However, it is expected that the results provide a framework for further studies to develop more efficient E-Health-related tools and services.
Health information seeking behavior is a widely discussed topic in the field of information studies. However, the current study is about observing and evaluating the efficiency of health information seeking behavior through E-Health service and devices. The main reason that motivated the researcher to carry out the current research was high cost of healthcare services in Finland. It is expected that health information obtained through electronic or online sources would help people to improve their health conditions. Therefore, this thesis is an empirical study on observing E-Health information seeking behavior and evaluating the efficiency of E-Health service and devices. In order to estimate the efficiency of E-Health service and products, this study considered some criteria generated by previous studies. These criteria were employed in the current study as indicators of the health information seeking efficiency.
The current study developed a customized model of health information seeking behavior based on the general model of information seeking behavior. The model contains some further criteria to measure the efficiency of the information seeking process. The primary tool to collect data were a multiple-choice questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed through two main methods, namely hard copy and online. The participants in this study were either Finnish older adults who were over 50 years old, or other persons who were responsible for providing health information for them.
The results of this study show that using E-Health service and products has neither a positive effect on improving the health condition of patients, nor does it motivate people to a healthier lifestyle, or make them feel more satisfied. However, it is expected that the results provide a framework for further studies to develop more efficient E-Health-related tools and services.
Supervisor: Professor Gunilla Widén (Åbo Akademi University)
Advisors: Professor Isto Huvila (Uppsala University) & Kristina Eriksson-Backa (Åbo Akademi University)
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