Health Information Seeking

In this text for researchers, advanced undergraduate and graduate students in health communication, and practitioners in health promotion, health education, and health marketing, Johnson and Case (communication, U. of Kentucky) describe the importance of information seeking as a facilitator for promoting, maintaining, and returning to health. Considering issues patients face when information seeking, they examine the nature of information and the information environment; psychosocial factors like gender, racial and ethnic differences, and education; the characteristics of information carriers such as mass media, social networks, intermediaries, health professionals, organizations, and the internet, and associated theoretical frameworks; various models of information-seeking behaviors and different styles; positive and negative outcomes, from decision making to erroneous conclusions; and strategies for individuals and health professionals helping them. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

J. David Johnson is Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Kentucky. He is the author of five books including Managing Knowledge Networks (2009). Dr. Johnson received his PhD from Michigan State University.
Donald O. Case is Professor at the University of Kentucky. He previously taught at UCLA for ten years. He is the author of Looking for Information (third edition, 2012) and over 40 journal articles on information behavior, technology, and policy. Dr. Case received his PhD in communication from Stanford University.