Understanding Information Seeking about the Health of Others: Applying the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking to Proxy Online Health Information Seeking

Abstract

A significant proportion of online health information seeking is related to the health of others, such as the one of family members and friends, instead of an individual’s own health. Understanding these behaviors of proxy seekers, i.e., individuals who seek information about the health of others, can improve the transmission of health information to and social support for others. The comprehensive model of information seeking (CMIS) is an established model that predicts information seeking for the individual seeker. The model was modified and extended with concepts of social network ties to predict proxy information seeking intentions and the resulting social support intentions. Hypothetical scenarios of persons from the social network suffering from depression were varied in severity of disease and the relationship closeness to test their influence on model variables. Structural equation modeling (N = 607) served to evaluate the associations between the health-related factors and proxy health information seeking intentions, as well as support intentions. The results confirmed the direct effects of beliefs on information-carrier utility. Contrary to expectations, demographics, experience, and salience had direct effects on proxy information seeking intentions. The results indicate that a modified CMIS helps to better meet surrogate seekers’ needs for supporting patients.