Locating Medical Information during an Infodemic: Information Seeking Behavior and Strategies of Health-Care Workers in Germany
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Surveys
2.1.1. COVID-19 Informational Needs and Strategies Study (Study 1)
Survey Participants (Study 1)
Questionnaire (Study 1)
2.1.2. COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance and Hesitance Study (Study 2)
Participants
Questionnaire
2.2. Ethics and Data Protection
2.3. Statistics
3. Results
3.1. Participants
3.2. COVID-19 Information Needs and Strategies Study (Study 1)
3.2.1. Information Channels
Social Media
Other Media
3.2.2. Information Sources Regarded as Trustworthy
3.2.3. Barriers to Using Evidence Syntheses
3.2.4. Information Formats
Online/Print Information Materials (in Professional Websites, Apps, Journals)
Continuing Medical Education
3.3. COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance and Hesitancy Study (Study 2)
3.3.1. Media Usage
3.3.2. COVID-19 Knowledge Test Results and Media Usage
3.3.3. Trust in Authorities
4. Discussion
4.1. Information Channels
4.2. Information Sources Regarded as Trustworthy
4.3. Information Formats
4.4. Information Barriers
4.5. Strengths and Limitations
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Study 1 | Study 2 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hospitals/Doctor’s Practices | Public Health Care Services | Inpatient and Outpatient Care, N = 2700 | |||
Physicians, N = 211 | Non-physicians, N = 71 | Physicians, N = 88 | Non-Physicians, N = 43 | Physicians, N = 1841 | Non-Physicians, N = 859 |
Residents, N = 91 Specialist physicians, N = 120 | Nursing staff, N = 45 Other non-physician medical professionals, e.g., medical technical assistants, N = 26 | Physicians, practically active, N = 42 Physicians, administra-tively active, N = 46 | Non-physician health care professionals, hands-on, N = 5 Non-physician health care professional, administrative, N = 6 Other function in administration/organization, N = 23 Other, N = 9 | Residents, N = 323 Specialist Physicians, N = 1329 Dentists, N = 189 | Nursing staff, N = 466 Other non-physician medical professionals, e.g., medical technical assistants, N = 346 Dentistry non-physician medical personnel, N = 47 |
Study 1, N = 413 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Item | Physicians, N = 299; N (%) | Non-Physicians, N = 114; N (%) | p | Odds Ratio [95% CI] | Patient Care, N = 303; N (%) | Non-Patient Care, N = 110; N (%) | p | Odds Ratio [95% CI] |
Which of the following platforms and channels do you or would you use to become aware of newly generated evidence/treatment recommendations | ||||||||
Online Community or Social Media | ||||||||
Missing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
34 (11.4) | 11 (9.6) | 0.616 | 1.20 [0.59–2.46] | 34 (11.2) | 11 (10.0) | 0.725 | 1.14 [0.55–2.33] | |
42 (14.0) | 33 (28.9) | <0.001 | 0.40 [0.24–0.67] | 57 (18.8) | 18 (16.4) | 0.568 | 1.18 [0.66–2.12] | |
15 (5.0) | 18 (15.8) | <0.001 | 0.28 [0.14–0.58] | 26 (8.6) | 7 (6.4) | 0.463 | 1.38 [0.58–3.28] | |
Youtube | 52 (17.4) | 30 (26.3) | 0.042 | 0.59 [0.35–0.98] | 62 (20.5) | 20 (18.2) | 0.608 | 1.16 [0.66–2.03] |
Messenger channel (e.g., Telegram) | 49 (16.4) | 12 (10.5) | 0.133 | 1.67 [0.85–3.26] | 47 (15.5) | 14 (12.7) | 0.481 | 1.26 [0.66–2.03] |
Networking in a research portal (e.g., ResearchGate) | 127 (42.5) | 26 (22.8) | <0.001 | 2.50 [1.52–4.10] | 101 (33.3) | 52 (47.3) | 0.010 | 0.56 [0.36–0.87] |
Other | 48 (16.1) | 15 (13.2) | 0.464 | 1.26 [0.68–2.36] | 48 (15.8) | 15 (13.6) | 0.582 | 1.19 [0.64–2.23] |
Campaigns or advertisements via | ||||||||
automated newsfeed (RSS feed) | 30 (10.0) | 12 (10.5) | 0.882 | 0.95 [0.47–1.92] | 28 (9.2) | 14 (12.7) | 0.300 | 0.70 [0.35–1.38] |
Email/newsletter | 168 (56.2) | 53 (46.5) | 0.077 | 1.48 [0.96–2.28] | 171 (56.4) | 50 (45.5) | 0.048 | 1.55 [1.00–2.41] |
Professional journals | 165 (55.2) | 23 (20.2) | <0.001 | 4.87 [2.92–8.12] | 148 (48.8) | 40 (36.4) | 0.024 | 1.67 [1.07–2.62] |
Television | 69 (23.1) | 65 (57.0) | <0.001 | 0.23 [0.14–0.36] | 91 (30.0) | 43 (49.1) | 0.082 | 0.67 [0.42–1.05] |
Radio | 58 (19.4) | 46 (40.4) | <0.001 | 0.36 [0.22–0.57] | 72 (23.8) | 32 (29.1) | 0.270 | 0.76 [0.47–1.24] |
Daily/weekly press | 65 (21.7) | 37 (32.5) | 0.024 | 0.58 [0.36–0.93] | 74 (24.4) | 28 (25.5) | 0.830 | 0.95 [0.57–1.56] |
Internet pages of the Robert Koch Institute, AWMF, Federal Ministry of Health, etc. | 188 (62.9) | 65 (57.0) | 0.275 | 1.28 [0.82–1.98] | 173 (57.1) | 80 (72.2) | 0.004 | 0.50 [0.31–0.80] |
Professional societies/medical associations | 149 (49.8) | 15 (13.2) | <0.001 | 6.56 [3.64–11.81] | 117 (38.6) | 47 (42.7) | 0.450 | 0.84 [0.54–1.31] |
Other | 3 (1.0) | 3 (2.6) | 0.216 | 0.38 [0.07–1.89] | 3 (1.0) | 3 (2.7) | 0.192 | 0.36 [0.07–1.79] |
Study 1, N = 413 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Item | Physicians, N = 299; N (%) | Non-Physicians, N = 114; N (%) | p | Odds Ratio [95% CI] | Patient Care, N = 303; N (%) | Non-Patient Care, N = 110; N (%) | p | Odds Ratio [95% CI] |
Which organizations (source of information) do you rate as most trustworthy regarding information on COVID-19 medical therapy? | ||||||||
Missing | 19 | 11 | 23 | 7 | ||||
Cochrane Collaboration | 78 (27.9) | 5 (4.9) | <0.001 | 7.57 [2.97–19.29] | 61 (21.8) | 22 (21.4) | 0.928 | 1.03 [0.59–1.78] |
German Network for Evidence-Based Medicine (EbM Network) | 41 (14.6) | 6 (5.8) | 0.020 | 2.77 [1.14–6.74] | 32 (11.4) | 15 (14.6) | 0.407 | 0.76 [0.39–1.46] |
Professional societies (e.g., DIVI, DGAI, DGIIN) | 139 (49.6) | 16 (15.5) | <0.001 | 5.36 [2.99–9.60] | 124 (44.3) | 31 (30.1) | 0.012 | 1.85 [1.14–2.99] |
Program for National Health Care Guidelines (cooperation of German Medical Association, KBV, AWMF) | 92 (32.9) | 11 (10.7) | <0.001 | 4.09 [2.09–8.02] | 76 (27.1) | 27 (26.2) | 0.856 | 1.05 [0.63–1.75] |
World Health Organization (WHO) | 69 (24.6) | 42 (40.8) | 0.002 | 0.47 [0.29–0.77] | 89 (31.8) | 22 (21.4) | 0.046 | 1.72 [1.01–2.93] |
Robert Koch Institute | 223 (79.6) | 95 (92.2) | 0.004 | 0.33 [0.15–0.72] | 229 (81.8) | 89 (86.4) | 0.285 | 0.71 [0.37–1.34] |
Federal Center for Health Education | 24 (8.6) | 28 (27.2) | <0.001 | 0.25 [0.14–0.46] | 29 (10.4) | 23 (22.3) | 0.002 | 0.40 [0.22–0.73] |
Other | 9 (3.2) | 6 (5.8) | 0.243 | 0.54 [0.19–1.55] | 9 (3.2) | 6 (5.8) | 0.243 | 0.54 [0.19–1.55] |
Study 1, N = 413 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Item | Physicians, N = 299; N (%) | Non-Physicians, N = 114; N (%) | p | Odds Ratio [95% CI] | Patient Care, N = 303; N (%) | Non-Patient Care, N = 110; N (%) | p | Odds Ratio [95% CI] |
What barriers do you face to acquiring evidence-based knowledge | ||||||||
Missing | 23 | 14 | 27 | 10 | ||||
I have too little time in my daily work to deal with evidence syntheses. | 218 (79.0) | 55 (55.0) | <0.001 | 3.08 [1.89–5.01] | 200 (72.5) | 73 (73.0) | 0.918 | 0.97 [0.58–1.63] |
The independent acquisition of evidence-based knowledge is not encouraged by my superiors. | 30 (10.9) | 10 (10.0) | 0.809 | 1.10 [0.52–2.34] | 34 (12.3) | 6 (6.0) | 0.079 | 2.20 [0.89–5.41] |
I have no experience in dealing with evidence syntheses. | 28 (10.1) | 30 (30.0) | <0.001 | 0.26 [0.15–0.47] | 40 (14.5) | 18 (18.0) | 0.405 | 0.75 [0.41–1.39] |
I am unsure/don’t know where or how to access reliable evidence syntheses. | 53 (19.2) | 21 (21.0) | 0.699 | 0.89 [0.51–1.58] | 61 (22.0) | 13 (13.0) | 0.050 | 1.90 [0.99–3.63] |
Access to evidence syntheses is too cumbersome (e.g., paid subscriptions/memberships). | 99 (35.9) | 17 (17.0) | <0.001 | 2.73 [1.53–4.86] | 81 (29.3) | 35 (35.0) | 0.294 | 0.77 [0.47–1.25] |
The language in evidence syntheses is too complex and difficult for me to understand. | 13 (4.7) | 20 (20.0) | <0.001 | 0.20 [0.09–0.42] | 21 (7.6) | 12 (12.0) | 0.184 | 0.60 [0.29–1.28] |
The content in evidence syntheses is not well matched to my target audience (e.g., in terms of prior knowledge, relevance). | 31 (11.2) | 17 (17.0) | 0.139 | 0.62 [0.33–1.17] | 33 (12.0) | 15 (15.0) | 0.435 | 0.77 [0.40–1.49] |
I reject the acquisition of knowledge from evidence syntheses, because in my opinion the contents are not practicable in everyday life (e.g. too undifferentiated, not applicable to the individual). | 3 (1.1) | 1 (1.0) | 0.942 | 1.09 [0.11–10.58] | 1 (0.4) | 3 (3.0) | 0.028 | 0.12 [0.01–1.14] |
Other | 11 (4.0) | 3 (3.0) | 0.656 | 1.342 [0.37–4.91] | 13 (4.7) | 1 (1.0) | 0.093 | 4.89 [0.63–37.90] |
COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance and Hesitancy Study | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Physicians N = 1841 | Non-Physicians N = 859 | p | Odd’s Ratio [95% CI] | |
From what media do you get your information on COVID-19 vaccination, N = 2700 | ||||
Missing | 0 | 0 | ||
Daily newspapers, weekly magazines (print) | 620 (33.7) | 231 (26.9) | <0.001 | 1.38 [1.15–1.65] |
Daily newspapers, weekly magazines (online) | 996 (54.1) | 405 (47.1) | <0.001 | 1.32 [1.12–1.55] |
Daily/weekly newspapers and magazines (online and print) | 1280 (69.5) | 537 (62.5) | <0.001 | 1.37 [1.15–1.62] |
Scientific journals (print) | 599 (32.5) | 108 (12.6) | <0.001 | 3.35 [2.68–4.20] |
Scientific journals (online) | 1269 (68.9) | 406 (47.3) | <0.001 | 2.48 [2.10–2.92] |
Scientific journals (print and online) | 1449 (78.7) | 439 (51.1) | <0.001 | 3.54 [2.97–4.21] |
Television/radio | 1077 (58.5) | 540 (62.9) | 0.031 | 0.83 [0.71–0.98] |
Social networks (e.g., Facebook) | 150 (8.1) | 122 (14.2) | <0.001 | 0.54 [0.42–0.69] |
Messenger services (e.g., Twitter, Telegram) | 94 (5.1) | 43 (5.0) | 0.912 | 1.02 [0.71–1.48] |
Online video platforms (e.g., YouTube) | 157 (8.5) | 100 (11.6) | 0.010 | 0.71 [0.54–0.92} |
Websites/information portals of government health authorities (e.g., RKI, WHO) | 1346 (73.1) | 649 (75.6) | 0.179 | 0.88 [0.73–1.06] |
Other | 114 (6.2) | 95 (11.1) | <0.001 | 0.53 [0.40–0.71] |
Knowledge test | ||||
Missing | 20 | 35 | ||
0 points | 34 (1.9) | 40 (4.9) | <0.001 | 0.37 [0.23–0.59] |
1 point | 62 (3.4) | 71 (8.6) | <0.001 | 0.37 [0.26–0.53] |
2 points | 215 (11.8) | 164 (19.9) | <0.001 | 0.54 [0.43–0.67] |
3 points | 485 (26.6) | 299 (36.3) | <0.001 | 0.64 [0.53–0.76] |
4 points | 1025 (56.3) | 250 (30.3) | <0.001 | 2.96 [2.48–3.52] |
I trust the regulatory authorities of vaccines in Germany in general | ||||
Missing | 0 | 0 | ||
I fully agree/I rather agree | 1655 (90.0) | 727 (85.0) | <0.001 | 1.62 [1.27–2.05] |
I trust the European regulatory authorities of COVID-19 vaccines used in Germany | ||||
Missing | 0 | 0 | ||
I fully agree/I rather agree | 1530 (83.1) | 670 (78.6) | <0.001 | 1.39 [1.13–1.70] |
I generally trust in the German health care politics | ||||
Missing | 0 | 0 | ||
I fully agree/I rather agree | 1081 (58.8) | 483 (56.7) | 0.299 | 1.11 [0.94–1.30] |
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© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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Holzmann-Littig, C.; Stadler, D.; Popp, M.; Kranke, P.; Fichtner, F.; Schmaderer, C.; Renders, L.; Braunisch, M.C.; Assali, T.; Platen, L.; et al. Locating Medical Information during an Infodemic: Information Seeking Behavior and Strategies of Health-Care Workers in Germany. Healthcare 2023, 11, 1602. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11111602
Holzmann-Littig C, Stadler D, Popp M, Kranke P, Fichtner F, Schmaderer C, Renders L, Braunisch MC, Assali T, Platen L, et al. Locating Medical Information during an Infodemic: Information Seeking Behavior and Strategies of Health-Care Workers in Germany. Healthcare. 2023; 11(11):1602. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11111602
Chicago/Turabian StyleHolzmann-Littig, Christopher, David Stadler, Maria Popp, Peter Kranke, Falk Fichtner, Christoph Schmaderer, Lutz Renders, Matthias Christoph Braunisch, Tarek Assali, Louise Platen, and et al. 2023. "Locating Medical Information during an Infodemic: Information Seeking Behavior and Strategies of Health-Care Workers in Germany" Healthcare 11, no. 11: 1602. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11111602