Title : Experiences of online health information seeking behavior among patients with initial stroke during the transition period in china: A qualitative research
Abstract:
Stroke is one of the major causes of death and disability worldwide. In recent years, the prevalence of initial stroke has continued to rise, further increasing the burden on society and families. With the ongoing digitalization of health resources, online health information has become a crucial channel for stroke patients to access health information and engage in self-health management due to its convenience and accessibility. Therefore, systematically exploring the characteristics of online health information seeking behavior among patients with initial stroke can not only guide patients in implementing scientific and effective health management but also facilitate the development, dissemination, and adaptation of online health resources to better meet patients' rehabilitation needs.
Purpose: This study aims to explore the actual experiences of online health information seeking behavior during the hospital-to-home transitional period for patients with initial stroke, focusing on patients' health information needs, channel preferences, and the difficulties and challenges faced in the process of information acquisition during this period. The findings will provide support for developing health information service solutions tailored to China's cultural context and meeting patients' practical needs, while also offering a scientific and reliable basis for improving health information delivery models during the transition period, thereby enhancing the quality of health management for patients.
Methods: This study employed semi-structured face-to-face in-depth interviews to investigate 15 initial stroke patients in the hospital-to-home transition period. The study participants were recruited between November 2025 and February 2026 in the neurology ward unit of a hospital in China, ensuring the representativeness of the subjects and the authenticity of the research setting.
Results: The online health information seeking behavior of patients with initial stroke exhibited diverse characteristics. Through systematic organization and analysis of interview data, this study identified four key themes: the motivations and triggering mechanisms of online health information seeking behavior; the decision-making logic and channel preferences of online health information; the methods of obtaining and processing online health information; and the evaluation and feedback of online health information. Building on this framework, the study further refined these themes: the motivations and triggering mechanisms were subdivided into two sub-themes; the decision-making logic and channel preferences, as well as the acquisition and processing strategies, were each broken down into three sub-themes; and the evaluation and feedback behaviors were further categorized into four sub-themes.
Conclusions: Patients with first-onset stroke have an especially urgent need for health information during the transition period from hospital to home due to their initial illness. However, when seeking health information through online channels, they often encounter multiple difficulties at both the emotional and skill levels. Therefore, understanding the real experiences of patients in their online health information seeking behavior provides a basis for formulating targeted intervention strategies, which is of great significance for optimizing patient health management and improving the quality of rehabilitation during the transition period.
Keywords: Initial Stroke, Health Information Seeking Behavior, Information Needs, Hospital-to-Home Transition Period, Qualitative Research
