Dear HIFA colleagues,
I was happy to see this paper in Information Development is free access (paradoxically I have previously found this journal's papers to be behind a paywall). Below are the citation, abstract, selected extracts and a comment from me.
CITATION: Information seeking behaviour of informal caregivers at the premier tertiary teaching hospital in Nigeria
Williams Ezinwa Nwagwu and Helen Adedolapo Akanji
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02666669241264745
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to examine the information behaviour of informal caregivers in a university college hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria. Informal caregivers in the teaching hospitals constitute critical pubic health care players whose information behaviours have not been studied. Data was collected from 208 caregivers using a questionnaire that consisted of structured and open-ended questions. The study found that healthcare providers were the primary source of health for caregivers, with 34.1% actively seeking information from them. The caregivers seldom utilised sources like the internet, community organizations, books, family, and friends. The preference for healthcare providers as sources is due to their accessibility and ability to provide prompt and accurate answers. Caregivers have diverse information needs, including medication-related information, first aid techniques, nutrition, exercise, mental health, and lifestyle choices. They seek this knowledge to make informed decisions that improve their loved ones’ well-being. The study also revealed that caregivers heavily rely on information technology for health information due to its accessibility and reliability. The study highlights the need for ongoing training and proactive information sharing by healthcare providers to better support informal caregivers in Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of integrated support systems within healthcare facilities. To meet diverse information needs, healthcare institutions should diversify dissemination strategies, including culturally sensitive materials and digital literacy programs, while developing tailored mobile applications and online support communities for caregivers. Policymakers must focus on creating supportive healthcare policies, funding caregiver programs, and expanding insurance coverage to alleviate financial burdens, ensuring that caregivers have access to necessary resources and information.
SELECTED EXTRACTS
1. Access to reliable healthcare information is essential for caregivers to fulfill their roles effectively. However, many face barriers such as limited access to formal healthcare services, low literacy rates, and language barriers. Understanding their information-seeking behaviours helps identify these obstacles and design targeted interventions to overcome them (Gaudin and Yazbeck, 2021).
2. Caregivers’ information needs vary depending on factors like the health condition of the patient, available resources, cultural beliefs and caregivers’ factors. By understanding their preferences and challenges, healthcare providers and policymakers can tailor information resources and support services to meet their specific needs (UNICEF, 2020).
3. According to the study, healthcare providers emerged as the primary source of information for caregivers, with 34.1% of the caregivers actively seeking information from them. Caregivers also utilised a range of other sources, such as the internet, community organizations, books, family, and friends.
4. Caregivers have a wide range of information needs, particularly when it comes to medication-related information, as they want to comprehend the effects, side effects, and treatment options of drugs. They also seek knowledge of first aid techniques to handle emergencies effectively, demonstrating their proactive approach to critical situations.
5. The primary sources of information for caregivers are other caregivers in the hospital, followed by other individuals who are not necessarily caregivers, and then, healthcare providers. [?contradicts point 3]
6. healthcare providers should adopt a proactive approach to sharing information, offering regular updates on patients’ conditions, treatment plans, and caregiving tips without requiring caregivers to request this information.
7. To address the varied information needs of caregivers, healthcare institutions should diversify their information dissemination channels. This includes the use of printed materials, online resources, and community outreach programs. The information provided must be culturally sensitive and available in local languages to ensure it is accessible and understandable to all caregivers, regardless of their educational background.
COMMENT (NPW): I have not been able to study the full text in detail, but the authors do not appear to discuss what is probably the most important issue for healthcare provider (time availability in a high-pressure, busy environment where there may be time for only a few minutes per patient) and similarly for policymakers (again, time but also resources). For both groups, a specific recommendation that could be implemented without additional time or resources would be helpful.
I have invited the authors to join us.
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org
