School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Optom Vis Sci. 2023 Jul 1;100(7):467-474. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000002038.
This study highlights the value that the public places on obtaining trusted and accessible health-related information and their preference for obtaining it from their health care practitioners. Previous research has not been specific to Canadians or vision. Findings can be used to increase eye health literacy and eye care utilization.
Canadians underuse eye care and underestimate the occurrence of asymptomatic eye disease. This study explored eye information-seeking practices and preferences among a group of Canadians.
Using snowball sampling, a 28-item online survey collected respondent perceptions about their eye and health information-seeking practices and preferences. Questions examined electronic device access, information source use, and demographics. Two open-ended questions examined information-seeking practices and preferences. Respondents were at least 18 years old and living in Canada. Individuals working in eye care were excluded. Response frequencies and z scores were computed. Written comments were assessed using content analysis.
Respondents searched for less eye than health information ( z scores ≥ 2.25, P < .05). For eye and health information, primary care providers were the used and preferred source, and reliance on Internet searches was greater than desired. Trust and access drove information-seeking practices. Respondent comments suggested that a hierarchy of trust operates across My Health Team, My Network, and My External Sources, with a persistent threat posed by Discredited Sources. Access to information sources seemed mediated by enablers (Convenience and Accessible Features) and barriers (Unreachable Health Team and Absent Systems). Eye information was seen as more specialized and harder to find. There was a high regard for health care practitioners who provide their patients with curated trusted information.
These Canadians value trusted and accessible health-related information. They prefer eye and health information from their health care practitioners and value when their health team provides online curated information, particularly regarding eyes.
本研究强调了公众对获取可信且易于获取的健康相关信息的重视，以及他们更倾向于从医疗保健从业者那里获取信息。之前的研究并未针对加拿大人或视力问题进行具体研究。研究结果可用于提高眼健康素养和眼保健利用率。
加拿大人对眼保健的利用率较低，对无症状眼病的发生情况估计不足。本研究探讨了一组加拿大人的眼健康信息搜索习惯和偏好。
采用滚雪球抽样法，通过 28 项在线调查收集了受访者对其眼健康和健康信息搜索习惯和偏好的看法。问题涉及电子设备的使用、信息来源的使用和人口统计学特征。两个开放式问题考察了信息搜索习惯和偏好。受访者年龄至少 18 岁，居住在加拿大。排除从事眼保健工作的人员。计算了应答频率和 z 分数。采用内容分析法对书面意见进行评估。
受访者搜索眼健康信息的频率低于健康信息（z 分数≥2.25，P＜.05）。对于眼健康信息和健康信息，初级保健提供者是最常被使用和首选的信息来源，对互联网搜索的依赖程度大于预期。信任和可及性驱动信息搜索行为。受访者的评论表明，信任存在一个层级，在 My Health Team、My Network 和 My External Sources 中运作，而 Discredited Sources 则构成持续威胁。信息来源的可及性似乎受到促进因素（便利性和可访问的功能）和障碍（无法联系的健康团队和缺失的系统）的调节。眼健康信息被认为更加专业，更难找到。人们对提供患者经过审核的可信信息的医疗保健从业者给予高度评价。
这些加拿大人重视可信且易于获取的健康相关信息。他们更喜欢从医疗保健从业者那里获取眼健康和健康信息，并重视他们的健康团队提供在线审核信息，特别是有关眼睛的信息。
