Inside the Mind of the Online Health Information Searcher using Think-Aloud Protocol.

In this article we employ the think-aloud protocol to gain an in-depth look at how 23 individuals searched for online health information. Participants narrated their health searches as we audio and video recorded using screen-capture software. We transcribed the recordings verbatim and used axial and selective coding to inductively identify themes into two main search stages: online processing and consequences. A typology of online health searchers, including flounderer, skimmer, digester, aficionado and devourer, is used to guide the reader through our findings about individual's attitudes, cognitions, emotions, and behaviors. Finally, we discuss implications for online health literacy and provide suggestions for future research.