Health information sharing – conceptual clarification and exploratory analysis in the context of mammography screening

Introduction. Information sharing is an important but under researched type of health information behaviour. In this study, we explore the characteristics of sharing behaviours, their reasons and determinants in the context of mammography screening. Method. We conducted a two-wave online survey wi...

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Main Authors: Paula Stehr, Elena Link, Constanze Rossmann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Borås 2024-09-01
Series:Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
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Online Access:https://informationr.net/infres/article/view/753
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author Paula Stehr
Elena Link
Constanze Rossmann
author_facet Paula Stehr
Elena Link
Constanze Rossmann
author_sort Paula Stehr
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Information sharing is an important but under researched type of health information behaviour. In this study, we explore the characteristics of sharing behaviours, their reasons and determinants in the context of mammography screening. Method. We conducted a two-wave online survey with N = 1,136 women. In the first wave, women saw an invitation letter to mammography screening and behavioural determinants were captured with established scales. In the second wave, women reported on their information behaviour between the two waves, combining standardized and open-ended questions. Analysis. We performed qualitative content analysis and a stepwise logistic regression analysis. Results. About one-fifth of the sample shared information on mammography between the two survey waves. Qualitative results revealed different causes and purposes of information sharing. Quantitative results showed that issue importance, opinion leadership and different types of information retrieval were related to information sharing. Conclusions. The results shed light on two facets for the conceptual clarification of health information sharing: sharing in the sense of selecting and passing on information (cf. diffusion of information by opinion leaders) and sharing as the mutual exchange of opinions and experiences. Both facets should be considered to comprehensively examine health information sharing behaviours and their relation with informed decision-making.
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spelling doaj-art-941bc7dd23324d3abb37def7920fa1d92025-02-03T10:10:34ZengUniversity of BoråsInformation Research: An International Electronic Journal1368-16132024-09-01293375510.47989/ir293753750Health information sharing – conceptual clarification and exploratory analysis in the context of mammography screeningPaula Stehr0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0767-8335Elena Link1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6861-5288Constanze Rossmann2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4068-4369LMU MunichJohannes Gutenberg University MainzLMU MunichIntroduction. Information sharing is an important but under researched type of health information behaviour. In this study, we explore the characteristics of sharing behaviours, their reasons and determinants in the context of mammography screening. Method. We conducted a two-wave online survey with N = 1,136 women. In the first wave, women saw an invitation letter to mammography screening and behavioural determinants were captured with established scales. In the second wave, women reported on their information behaviour between the two waves, combining standardized and open-ended questions. Analysis. We performed qualitative content analysis and a stepwise logistic regression analysis. Results. About one-fifth of the sample shared information on mammography between the two survey waves. Qualitative results revealed different causes and purposes of information sharing. Quantitative results showed that issue importance, opinion leadership and different types of information retrieval were related to information sharing. Conclusions. The results shed light on two facets for the conceptual clarification of health information sharing: sharing in the sense of selecting and passing on information (cf. diffusion of information by opinion leaders) and sharing as the mutual exchange of opinions and experiences. Both facets should be considered to comprehensively examine health information sharing behaviours and their relation with informed decision-making.https://informationr.net/infres/article/view/753health information behaviourinformation sharingopinion leadership
spellingShingle Paula Stehr
Elena Link
Constanze Rossmann
Health information sharing – conceptual clarification and exploratory analysis in the context of mammography screening
Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
health information behaviour
information sharing
opinion leadership
title Health information sharing – conceptual clarification and exploratory analysis in the context of mammography screening
title_full Health information sharing – conceptual clarification and exploratory analysis in the context of mammography screening
title_fullStr Health information sharing – conceptual clarification and exploratory analysis in the context of mammography screening
title_full_unstemmed Health information sharing – conceptual clarification and exploratory analysis in the context of mammography screening
title_short Health information sharing – conceptual clarification and exploratory analysis in the context of mammography screening
title_sort health information sharing conceptual clarification and exploratory analysis in the context of mammography screening
topic health information behaviour
information sharing
opinion leadership
url https://informationr.net/infres/article/view/753
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AT constanzerossmann healthinformationsharingconceptualclarificationandexploratoryanalysisinthecontextofmammographyscreening