Health Information Repertoires: A User-Centered Perspective on the Selection of Health Information Sources in the General Population

• In Event: Health and Medical Information Seeking and Processing (High-Density)

Abstract

Health information-seeking in the general population is often analyzed from a communication channel or information source perspective. We propose health information repertoires as a user-centered alternative. The repertoire approach focuses on the question how individuals combine different health information sources within and across communication channels. Using representative survey data of German health information-seekers, we identified five health information repertoires. The repertoires are structured by the dimensions involvement and use of online sources. A further distinction is made among health onliners into users of web services of traditional health institutions and users of original Internet services. A description of the individuals with each repertoire is provided. The discussion will refer to uses and skills divides, source complementarity and substitution, and cross-media health communication.

Authors

• Marko Bachl, U of Hohenheim

• Frank Mangold, U of Hohenheim