Information avoidance by younger adults with Type 1 diabetes: a preliminary empirical study

Introduction. People with Type 1 diabetes need to collect data to calculate their own insulin doses, and collect information about potential complications. However, information avoidance may be a barrier to such activities. Method. A preliminary study of information avoidance by younger adults wit...

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Main Authors: Bruce Ryan, Gemma Webster
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Borås 2024-09-01
Series:Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://informationr.net/infres/article/view/701
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author Bruce Ryan
Gemma Webster
author_facet Bruce Ryan
Gemma Webster
author_sort Bruce Ryan
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. People with Type 1 diabetes need to collect data to calculate their own insulin doses, and collect information about potential complications. However, information avoidance may be a barrier to such activities. Method. A preliminary study of information avoidance by younger adults with Type 1 diabetes covered data, information and information channels that they avoid, and adolescence’s effects on diabetes information behaviour. Semi-structured interviews with six younger adults with Type 1 diabetes and five healthcare professionals were used to understand their diabetes information behaviours. Analysis. The understandings were gleaned from thematic analysis of interview transcripts. Results. Younger adults with Type 1 diabetes may only collect blood glucose data, disregarding other relevant data and information. They may also take ‘time off’ from collection, and not gather information about potential complications. Some desire more contact with healthcare professionals. Adolescence may involve significant avoidance of data and information. Conclusions. Observed behaviours speak to ‘utility’ and ‘hedonic drives’. Long gaps between healthcare appointments may exacerbate avoidance, as well as limiting healthcare professionals’ opportunities to advise patients. Younger adults with Type 1 diabetes avoid data and information unless they believe these are needed. Frequency of appointments and routes to information could be improved.
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spelling doaj-art-c06c9c4783544bc1bc39e6eca01ee0fe2025-02-03T10:10:34ZengUniversity of BoråsInformation Research: An International Electronic Journal1368-16132024-09-01293567310.47989/ir293701698Information avoidance by younger adults with Type 1 diabetes: a preliminary empirical studyBruce Ryan0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5499-2971Gemma Webster1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6801-8608Edinburgh Napier UniversityUniversity of Dundee, UKIntroduction. People with Type 1 diabetes need to collect data to calculate their own insulin doses, and collect information about potential complications. However, information avoidance may be a barrier to such activities. Method. A preliminary study of information avoidance by younger adults with Type 1 diabetes covered data, information and information channels that they avoid, and adolescence’s effects on diabetes information behaviour. Semi-structured interviews with six younger adults with Type 1 diabetes and five healthcare professionals were used to understand their diabetes information behaviours. Analysis. The understandings were gleaned from thematic analysis of interview transcripts. Results. Younger adults with Type 1 diabetes may only collect blood glucose data, disregarding other relevant data and information. They may also take ‘time off’ from collection, and not gather information about potential complications. Some desire more contact with healthcare professionals. Adolescence may involve significant avoidance of data and information. Conclusions. Observed behaviours speak to ‘utility’ and ‘hedonic drives’. Long gaps between healthcare appointments may exacerbate avoidance, as well as limiting healthcare professionals’ opportunities to advise patients. Younger adults with Type 1 diabetes avoid data and information unless they believe these are needed. Frequency of appointments and routes to information could be improved.https://informationr.net/infres/article/view/701information avoidancetype 1 diabetesyounger peopleutilityhedonic drives
spellingShingle Bruce Ryan
Gemma Webster
Information avoidance by younger adults with Type 1 diabetes: a preliminary empirical study
Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
information avoidance
type 1 diabetes
younger people
utility
hedonic drives
title Information avoidance by younger adults with Type 1 diabetes: a preliminary empirical study
title_full Information avoidance by younger adults with Type 1 diabetes: a preliminary empirical study
title_fullStr Information avoidance by younger adults with Type 1 diabetes: a preliminary empirical study
title_full_unstemmed Information avoidance by younger adults with Type 1 diabetes: a preliminary empirical study
title_short Information avoidance by younger adults with Type 1 diabetes: a preliminary empirical study
title_sort information avoidance by younger adults with type 1 diabetes a preliminary empirical study
topic information avoidance
type 1 diabetes
younger people
utility
hedonic drives
url https://informationr.net/infres/article/view/701
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