Survey on medication information literacy and influencing factors among pregnant Chinese women

BACKGROUND

The use of medication during pregnancy is very common. Medication safety has been a great concern among pregnant women and is highly influenced by women's medication information literacy (MIL). There have been few studies focusing on MIL of pregnant women in China. The misuse of medication during pregnancy may impose on risks on pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES

The focus of this study was to investigate the MIL of pregnant Chinese women and to identify influencing factors.

METHODS

Convenience sampling was used following the distribution of a researcher-designed questionnaire to pregnant women at obstetric clinics. A scale was developed to evaluate participants' MIL which included medication information needs, medication information sources, medication information quality discrimination, medication information source awareness, and medication-taking behavior. Demographic characteristics of participants, health status and medication use during pregnancy were also collected.

RESULTS

Questionnaires were completed by 570 participants, yielding a 99% response rate. The total score on the Pregnant Women's Medication Information Literacy Scale ranged from 47 to 96 with a mean score of 74.25 ± 8.22. A total score of 80% or higher indicated the participants' have sufficient medication information literacy which was achieved by 28.2% of the sample. Rate of participants who have sufficient MIL on subscale domains were: medication information needs (76.6%), medication-taking behavior (49.9%), medication information source awareness (26.8%), medication information quality discrimination (17.3%) and medication information sources (15.3%). Significant differences were found in the MIL of participants related to education level, location of residence, occupation, household income, age, weeks of gestation and medication history (p < .05). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that education, income level, location of residence, occupation, and weeks of gestation affected participants' MIL.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall MIL is low among pregnant Chinese women, which suggests a need for healthcare professionals focusing on medication safety teaching to pregnant women. Interventions by health care professionals in obstetric clinics that promote MIL and prevent adverse events related to medications should be individualized based upon pregnant woman's education level, financial resources, community of residence, occupation and week of gestation.

A behavioural model for information retrieval system design

A behavioural model derived from analysis of the informa tion-seeking patterns of academic social scientists is employed to provide recommendations for information retrieval system design. The six major characteristics identified in the informa tion-seeking patterns—starting, chaining, browsing, differenti ating, monitoring and extracting—are descnbed in relation to retrieval system facilities, and the possibility of implementing an experimental system in a hypertext environment is consid ered.

Australian motor sport enthusiasts’ leisure information behaviour

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the leisure information behaviour of motor sport enthusiasts, examining: their information needs; their information seeking and sharing; what personal information they had; and their satisfaction with their information seeking and personal information management efforts.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory study examined participants’ information behaviour from a postpositivist and inductive research approach. An online survey was completed by 81 motor sport enthusiasts. The quantitative survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics, whilst the qualitative data were analysed using thematic coding.

Findings

The research findings highlighted that enthusiasts engaged in mixed serious leisure. They required information before, during and after race events, and sought this primarily from online sources, as well as from other individuals. Totally, 90 participants shared information about their interest in motor sport with family, friends and fellow enthusiasts, primarily via e-mails (69 per cent) and Facebook (49 per cent). They also gathered information about motor sport, including photographs and memorabilia. Participants were satisfied with their information management strategies for their personal collections.

Research limitations/implications

Participants were limited to motor sport enthusiasts in Australia, hence findings cannot be generalised more broadly.

Practical implications

Understandings of enthusiasts’ information behaviour provide information management professionals with insights to work with this user community.

Originality/value

This study fills a gap in the literature about leisure information behaviour of motor sport enthusiasts in Australia. It identifies and provides a typology of the 12 categories of information needed by enthusiasts. Provides a preliminary motor sport information behaviour model guided by the conceptual frameworks of the everyday life information seeking model; general models on information behaviour; and the information problem solving behaviour model.