• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.167-187
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• 2019

Information behavior (IB) research in LIS and Health Information Seeking Behavior (HISB) in Health Medicine are two subject areas of research that have matured in the past few decades. This research aimed to compare these two research areas using a bibliometric approach. To conduct this study two distinct datasets were created using the Scopus database: a) bibliographic records of IB in the LIS domain, and b) bibliographic records of the HISB domain. The bibliometric analysis was performed according to the following criteria: published papers, citations, journal articles, author keywords, unique words in the title, words preceding "information" in the title, words preceding "study" in the title, and author keywords along with index keywords. As a result, the major differences in the two IB research areas were evident in terms of definitions, main focus, and general demographic groups. These varying types of differences suggest that researchers of the two areas should have flexibility when examining issues related to IB by considering the context and the unique distinction between the two fields.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.209-228
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• 2017

Previous studies have noted mothers' roles as active health information seekers, health managers, and caregivers for their family members. However, little is known about health information needs and seeking behaviors among Korean mothers of young children living in the United States. Using paper-based surveys, this study found that vaccination, child dental health, parenting, nutrition and diets, and physical exercise were ranked as the five most important health topics by the Korean mothers of young children aged 0 to 10 years old in this sample. Furthermore, this study revealed that mothers of boys evaluated the importance of two topics significantly higher than those of girls: circumcision (t=3.16, p < .01) and breastfeeding (t=2.47, p < .05). Also, age of child was an important factor influencing mothers' information needs in three health topics: child dental health (F=5.292, p < .01), physical exercise (F=7.107, p < .01), and child skin care (F=5.640, p < .01). Implications for developing health information services are also discussed.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.21-48
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• 2021

Today, with countless health information being accessible through online and offline, the public has been able to explore health-related information in various ways. The current study focuses on the information-seeking behavior of the mothers who actively explore information related to the health of their healthy infants (aged between 0 and 3 years). The researcher had conducted in-depth interviews of 24 American, Korean, and Korean immigrant mothers living in the United States, and then analyzed the sequential order of the information sources that they have used to search for the health-related information about their children. The current research highlights that the mothers' information-seeking pathways and searched topics tended to differ in accordance with their child(ren)'s health conditions (e.g., ill vs. healthy). For instance, regarding the information sources used, more diverse health information sources (e.g., public libraries, government health agencies, daycare teachers) were used when their child(ren) was not ill. In addition, when a child was ill, mothers were likely to focus on information about specific diseases or symptoms first, whereas when the child was healthy, they used to explore information on various health topics such as growth and development, nutrition and diets, parenting, and so on. Based on the results, implications for the information professionals are discussed when designing and providing health-related information services to mothers of healthy infants and toddlers.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.279-300
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• 2021

The present study aimed to investigate the information needs and information seeking behavior of consumers who attempted to quit or maintain the ceasing of smoking and analyze the effects of the health information obtained at different stages. In particular, we examined how consumers use mobile health applications(health apps) as aids to change unhealthy behaviors and how their use of health apps influence health behavior changes. For 7 months from December 2017 to July 2018, the researchers observed changes in smoking behaviors of college students who use smoking-cessation apps and conducted face-to-face interviews. Regarding the effects of smoking-cessation apps, the participants in the action stage reported that they were encouraged to quit smoking by visualized information such as the number of days of smoking cessation, change of health status, and the saving of money due to smoking cessation. The participants in the maintenance stage highlighted that smoking cessation apps were helpful in recognizing the importance and achievement of smoking cessation by sharing experiences and social support with other attempters in the app community. The study provided theoretical implications in the field of information behavior in that it identified the particular types of information needs and information-seeking behavior of the consumers who were using mobile apps in their behavior modification process. In addition, those findings can contribute to designing the contents of the smoking cessation apps that reflect the information needs of those who attempt to cease smoking and further suggest practical insights to health information services that promote effective information intervention strategies in health behavior change.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.389-409
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting female college students' behaviors in seeking reproductive health information on the Internet and to explore the relationships among these factors. Based on the Health Belief Model(HBM) and the Theory of Planned Behavior(TPB), perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived benefit, perceived barriers, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and affective evaluation were defined as key factors, and the study was designed accordingly. An online survey was distributed to female college students in Seoul through the university student's online community, 'Everytime.' The results showed that the intention of female college students to seek reproductive health information via the Internet was associated with higher perceived sensitivity, perceived benefit, and subjective norms, and lower perceived barriers. There were statistically significant differences between groups in terms of sexual experiences, experience with reproductive system disorders, and the level of health interest. We believe that this research outcome will contribute to assessing the level of awareness regarding reproductive health among female college students, thereby aiding in the development of online health information literacy education or related service programs by university libraries, health institutions, and similar entities targeting female college students.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.11
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• pp.413-421
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• 2017

This study explored relationships between health perception and behavior of Korean relevant to particulate matter(PM) as PM in the atmosphere getting worse. To investigate the relationship in the personal hygiene dimension, we analysed the structural relationships among multi-dimensional health locus of control, perceived susceptibility and severity, and health behavior intention. Except internal among three tendencies of multi-dimensional health locus of control, chance and powerful other had an effect on perceived susceptibility and severity, respectively. Perceived susceptibility and severity also had a positive effect on the intention. Thus, to facilitate PM-related disease prevention, timely and reliable information should be supplied with the solution for lessening damage from PM, and then training for internalizing locus of control should be encouraged through eliminating fear and uncertainty. Finally, we discussed suggestions for future study.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.70
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• pp.246-276
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• 2015

From a historical perspective of risk communication, risks can be classified by their associated level of responsibility. In the case of technical risks such as hazardous chemical accidents, people perceive that risk-related organizations have a high level of responsibility; however, they do not in traditional risks such as natural disasters. This study aims to examine risk information seeking and processing, as seen in two types of risk, based on the Risk Information Seeking and Processing(RISP) model. For this purpose, hypotheses and a research question are developed with current domestic risk issues, and the results show significant differences in risk information seeking and processing between the two types of risk. Specifically, in the case of the chemical spill accident, negative emotion against relevant institutions makes different information seeking and processing compared to the natural disaster. The low level responsibility risk such as typhoon comparatively follows the flow of the original RISP model. However, the high level responsibility risk such as the hydrofluoric acid spill did not match with the RISP model. Based on the research results, theoretical implications were discussed.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.31-48
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to provide an understanding of the trajectories of multidimensional health among older adults, including depression, chronic diseases, and cognitive function. Data were drawn from the 1-6 waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing(KLoSA), and a sample of 2,059 respondents aged 65 and older at baseline was used for the analyses. Latent growth curve models and growth mixture models were used to explore the changes in depression, chronic diseases, cognitive function, and heterogeneous trajectories among them. One-way ANOVAs with Scheffé post-hoc analysis and chi-square tests were used to find differences in sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and life satisfaction across the latent trajectory classes. Latent growth curve models revealed that depressive symptoms and the number of chronic diseases increased over time, while cognitive function showed gradual decreases. Three heterogeneous patterns of multidimensional health trajectories were identified: normal aging, increase in chronic diseases, and chronic deterioration. Significant differences were observed in sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and life satisfaction across the three latent classes. In particular, low educational attainment, household income, and life satisfaction were associated with the chronic deterioration class. Based on the findings, we discussed suggestions for health promotion education targeting older adults. This study also emphasizes the importance of home economics education in promoting health literacy across the life course.

• Korean Public Health Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.1-13
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to explore the subjective experiences of problem drinkers participating in the early intervention program for moderate alcohol drinking. Methods : A qualitative descriptive study design was used. Data were collected through individual interviews with thirteen problem drinkers and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results : The experiences of the problem drinkers participating in the early intervention program were derived from four themes and nine sub-themes in terms of awareness, alcohol expectancies, perceived self-efficacy and behavioral change. They participated in programs offered in the workplace, and there were differences in motivation level among individuals, but generally accepted the necessity of the program. Participants who had trust with the program provider were more likely to change drinking behavior. Conclusion : Problem drinkers who participated in the early intervention program showed that it is a useful approach to change the problem drinking behavior by promoting awareness of alcohol-related knowledge, motivation for change through acquiring enough information and acquisition of self-efficacy as a behavior skill. These findings can be used as basic information for implementing and adapting early intervention for prevention of alcoholism in primary health care setting including workplace.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.393-403
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• 2022

This study tried to derive implications by analyzing the literature related to food psychology to understand the psychological and emotional influence of food. The results of an exploratory study on food psychology are as follows. First, it was found that the perception of taste is related to an individual's state of mind. Second, as the theories for understanding the psychological aspects of food intake, the eating inhibition theory, the emotion regulation theory, and the escape model for binge eating based on the narcissistic theory were confirmed. Third, it was found that tools that can measure symptoms related to binge eating occupy a large portion of food-related diagnostic tools. Fourth, research on food-related psychological disorders was conducted on food cravings, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, eating inhibition, and healthy food obsession. Fifth, it was found that studies related to the treatment of food-related psychological disorders were focused on the cognitive behavioral therapy approach. This study will serve as a basis for understanding and intervening in the emotional impact of food and psychological problems related to food.