A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Health information seeking behaviour during exceptional times: A case study of Persian-speaking minorities in Finland
Authors: Ahmadinia, Hamed; Eriksson-Backa, Kristina; Nikou, Shahrokh
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
Publishing place: NEW YORK
Publication year: 2022
Journal:: Library and Information Science Research
Journal name in source: LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE RESEARCH
Journal acronym: LIBR INFORM SCI RES
Article number: 101156
Volume: 44
Issue: 2
Number of pages: 11
ISSN: 0740-8188
eISSN: 1873-1848
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2022.101156
Web address : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740818822000196
Abstract
Literature on minorities' health-related information seeking shows that minorities, like non-minorities, require access to accurate and timely information, but they also need information in a range of languages and from a variety of sources. Health-related information seeking behaviour of Persian-speaking minorities living in Finland, explicitly focused on the COVID-19 pandemic situation, was investigated. Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the extended Longo Health Information Model was used as a theoretical lens for analysing the data. The results point to several factors that can improve the outcome of minorities' health-related information seeking behaviours and activities, such as providing information related to their personal health, a deeper understanding of factors influencing the quality of health conditions at the individual or household level and broadcasting the latest health-related information in different languages and emphasize the needs for mental health-related information and services. The findings suggest that not only healthcare providers, immigration officials, and policymakers should be aware of the specific health-related information that minorities require, seek, and use during times of adversity, but also the extent to which how the identified factors influence the process of minorities' seeking health-related information.
Literature on minorities' health-related information seeking shows that minorities, like non-minorities, require access to accurate and timely information, but they also need information in a range of languages and from a variety of sources. Health-related information seeking behaviour of Persian-speaking minorities living in Finland, explicitly focused on the COVID-19 pandemic situation, was investigated. Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the extended Longo Health Information Model was used as a theoretical lens for analysing the data. The results point to several factors that can improve the outcome of minorities' health-related information seeking behaviours and activities, such as providing information related to their personal health, a deeper understanding of factors influencing the quality of health conditions at the individual or household level and broadcasting the latest health-related information in different languages and emphasize the needs for mental health-related information and services. The findings suggest that not only healthcare providers, immigration officials, and policymakers should be aware of the specific health-related information that minorities require, seek, and use during times of adversity, but also the extent to which how the identified factors influence the process of minorities' seeking health-related information.
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