Which Approaches and Methods Are Most Appropriate for Exploring Health Information Behaviour?

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to establish the approaches preferred in studies focusing on online health information seeking behaviour (OHISB). Based on the content analysis of 70 articles on OHISB retrieved from EBSCOhost databases, five larger groups of studies were identified: (1) quantitative approach (39%), (2) qualitative research (25%), (3) mixed methods design (9%), (4) meta-analysis and bibliometric aspect (10%) and (5) other studies (e.g., theoretical aspect, online health information quality). Thus, quantitative research does dominate, but only to a degree. The qualitative aspect has grown considerably over time. Subject to the analysed literature, it may be concluded that the mixed methods seem to have generated the most comprehensive approach for studying OHISB in all its variety and complexity. However, this design was in fact least used in the analysed studies compared to quantitative and qualitative research.