![Sample our Communication Studies journals, sign in here to start your access, 2013 & 2014 volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5927/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Information-Science2.jpg"})
Abstract
This exploratory study examines information-seeking about the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (i.e. healthcare reform) in relation to the potential barriers of uncertainty, uncertainty discrepancy, and low health self-efficacy. Adult United States participants completed an anonymous online survey about their perceptions and understanding of healthcare reform. Results confirmed recent literature, suggesting a complex relationship between information-seeking and uncertainty. Specifically, for this sample, significant positive relationships were observed between information-seeking about healthcare reform and uncertainty, uncertainty discrepancy, health self-efficacy. Further, uncertainty discrepancy was the potential barrier that accounted for the most variance in predicting information-seeking. Implications of these findings for improving public understanding of healthcare reform are discussed.
Acknowledgement
The authors acknowledge the contributions of Julia Ernst, Flora Bahadoran Feiz, Jessica Francies, Nicole Lieppman, and Nicole Santora to this project.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Nasim Mirkiani Thompson
Nasim Mirkiani Thompson is a graduate of the Health and Strategic Communication graduate Program at Chapman University.
Jennifer L Bevan
Jennifer L Bevan is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies and the Health and Strategic Communication graduate Program at Chapman University.
Lisa Sparks
Lisa Sparks is Foster and Mary McGaw Endowed Professor in Behavioral Sciences in Chapman University's Schmid College of Science Health and Risk Communication graduate program and Full Member of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center/NCI Designated and Adjunct Professor of Public Health at the University of California, Irvine.