Health Information-Seeking Behavior in Older Adults with Vision Impairment Among Different Stages of Eye Care: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study

TL;DR

This study compares how older adults with vision impairment seek health information at different stages of eye care, finding that behavior varies significantly depending on the care stage.

Contribution

The study identifies stage-specific factors influencing health information-seeking behavior in older adults with visual impairment.

Findings

The treatment stage showed the highest health information-seeking behavior scores, especially in attitudes and needs.

Higher income and education levels were linked to better HISB in the pre-visit and treatment stages.

Rural residence and family caregiving supported HISB in the follow-up stage.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Visual impairment (VI) represents a significant health challenge among older adults, particularly due to their limited understanding of health information. This study aimed to investigate and compare the health information-seeking behavior (HISB) of older adults with VI across different stages of eye care. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in 248 older adults with VI in various stages of eye care, including the pre-visit stage (n = 84), treatment stage (n = 83), and follow-up stage (n = 81) at the Shenzhen Eye Hospital from July to October 2024. Participants completed an HISB questionnaire encompassing four dimensions: attitude, needs, sources, and barriers. Results: The overall mean score of HISB varied significantly among the different eye care stages. The treatment stage had the highest scores (3.70 ± 0.32), particularly in attitudes toward health information and information needs. Poor self-reported overall health facilitated HISB in each stage. In the pre-visit stage, higher income was associated with increased HISB, while a lack of internet access reduced it. In the treatment stage, higher education was associated with higher HISB, whereas moderate-to-severe VI and certain income levels were associated with negative effects. In the follow-up stage, rural residence and spousal or child caregiving emerged as key facilitators of HISB. Conclusions: The treatment stage is a critical period for HISB engagement in older adults with VI. Healthcare providers should consider stage-specific factors of HISB to optimize health information delivery.