Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Early Access
    • Multimedia
    • Podcast
    • Collections
    • Past Issues
    • Articles by Subject
    • Articles by Type
    • Supplements
    • Plain Language Summaries
    • Calls for Papers
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Job Seekers
    • Media
  • About
    • Annals of Family Medicine
    • Editorial Staff & Boards
    • Sponsoring Organizations
    • Copyrights & Permissions
    • Announcements
  • Engage
    • Engage
    • e-Letters (Comments)
    • Subscribe
    • Podcast
    • E-mail Alerts
    • Journal Club
    • RSS
    • Annals Forum (Archive)
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
  • Careers

User menu

  • My alerts

Search

  • Advanced search
Annals of Family Medicine
  • My alerts
Annals of Family Medicine

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Early Access
    • Multimedia
    • Podcast
    • Collections
    • Past Issues
    • Articles by Subject
    • Articles by Type
    • Supplements
    • Plain Language Summaries
    • Calls for Papers
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Job Seekers
    • Media
  • About
    • Annals of Family Medicine
    • Editorial Staff & Boards
    • Sponsoring Organizations
    • Copyrights & Permissions
    • Announcements
  • Engage
    • Engage
    • e-Letters (Comments)
    • Subscribe
    • Podcast
    • E-mail Alerts
    • Journal Club
    • RSS
    • Annals Forum (Archive)
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Follow annalsfm on Twitter
  • Visit annalsfm on Facebook
Research ArticleOriginal Research

Health Information Seeking, Receipt, and Use in Diabetes Self-Management

Daniel R. Longo, Shari L. Schubert, Barbara A. Wright, Joseph LeMaster, Casey D. Williams and John N. Clore
The Annals of Family Medicine July 2010, 8 (4) 334-340; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.1115
Daniel R. Longo
ScD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Shari L. Schubert
BA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Barbara A. Wright
MLS, AHIP
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Joseph LeMaster
MD, MPH
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Casey D. Williams
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
John N. Clore
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • eLetters
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Published eLetters

If you would like to comment on this article, click on Submit a Response to This article, below. We welcome your input.

Submit a Response to This Article
Compose eLetter

More information about text formats

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
Author Information
First or given name, e.g. 'Peter'.
Your last, or family, name, e.g. 'MacMoody'.
Your email address, e.g. higgs-boson@gmail.com
Your role and/or occupation, e.g. 'Orthopedic Surgeon'.
Your organization or institution (if applicable), e.g. 'Royal Free Hospital'.
Statement of Competing Interests
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

Vertical Tabs

Jump to comment:

  • Patient Use of Health Information: A Call for A Research Agenda
    Daniel R Longo
    Published on: 22 March 2011
  • Health literacy research should include patients from diverse ethnicities and those with limited literacy
    M Jawad Hashim
    Published on: 29 July 2010
  • Published on: (22 March 2011)
    Page navigation anchor for Patient Use of Health Information: A Call for A Research Agenda
    Patient Use of Health Information: A Call for A Research Agenda
    • Daniel R Longo, Richmond, Virginia, USA
    • Other Contributors:

    In his critique (1) of our article previously published in the Annals of Family Medicine (2) Professor M Jawad Hashim rightfully identifies critical issues that need to be kept in the forefront in interpreting the results of our study as well as in designing future research. The critique identifies clear limitations as a results on the conduct of focus groups in one Midwestern city and the characteristics of its population...

    Show More

    In his critique (1) of our article previously published in the Annals of Family Medicine (2) Professor M Jawad Hashim rightfully identifies critical issues that need to be kept in the forefront in interpreting the results of our study as well as in designing future research. The critique identifies clear limitations as a results on the conduct of focus groups in one Midwestern city and the characteristics of its population. However, one must go beyond those limitations in understanding qualitative focus group data that allows one an opportunity to delve into the meaning of the participants’ words and specially in this case the descriptions of health information use in patients own words. We included a population as diverse as the city in which the focus group was conducted and do recognize this study needs to be replicated in our areas of the country with more diverse populations. With all due respect I urge Professor M Jawad Hashim and other readers to note that the study was in no way intended to explore “health literacy” with patients from diverse ethnicities; such a task is important and it is hoped that future studies will go into that direction. As stated this is but one study in a research agenda we and others need to conduct to fully understand the issue of health information issue from patients’ perspectives. In fact we conclude with noting in the article “some areas to consider when developing hypotheses for future research, including (1) the relationship between improved self-management and various types of information, (2) issues of health literacy as they affect information use, (3) how self-management changes with time and its impact on information use, and (4) the effect of information on outcomes that matter to patients in the short and long term.”3 It is with additional studies over time that some of the issues rightfully addresses by Professor M Jawad Hashim can be addressed. We intend to do so and urge others to do the same.

    1 Health literacy research should include patients from diverse ethnicities and those with limited literacy M Jawad Hashim (29 July 2010) 2-3 Longo DR, Schubert SL, Wright BA, LeMaster J, Williams CD, Clore JN. Health information seeking, receipt, and use in diabetes self-management. Annals of Family Medicine July/August 2010;8(4):334-340, p.340.

    Competing interests:   3 Longo DR, Schubert SL, Wright BA, LeMaster J, Williams CD, Clore JN. Health information seeking, receipt, and use in diabetes self-management. Annals of Family Medicine July/August 2010;8(4):334-340 was previously published in this journal

    Show Less
    Competing Interests: None declared.
  • Published on: (29 July 2010)
    Page navigation anchor for Health literacy research should include patients from diverse ethnicities and those with limited literacy
    Health literacy research should include patients from diverse ethnicities and those with limited literacy
    • M Jawad Hashim, Al Ain, UAE

    I read with interest this study(1) as it relates to the improving health literacy by exploring health information seeking behavior of patients with diabetes.

    Although a well conducted study, its claim of achieving diversity of participants is slightly puzzling.
    The article states, “To achieve the broadest possible range of insight, participants were recruited to ensure diversity in … race …...

    Show More

    I read with interest this study(1) as it relates to the improving health literacy by exploring health information seeking behavior of patients with diabetes.

    Although a well conducted study, its claim of achieving diversity of participants is slightly puzzling.
    The article states, “To achieve the broadest possible range of insight, participants were recruited to ensure diversity in … race …” and later, “… participants were socioeconomically and ethnically diverse, and we are reasonably certain that the responses reflect the views and background of a diverse population ….”
    Yet, in Table 1, about 70% (32) of the participants are reported as white and 22% (10) African American.
    No Latino/Hispanic or American Indian patients were included and only one Asian was interviewed.
    Even though a caution is mentioned about “regional differences,” the problem is more than area variations.
    Even more concerning is that few patients (< 5%) with limited literacy were enrolled. This may explain the skew towards high literacy information sources.

    Health literacy research over last decade has underscored the need to enable patients with limited literacy (often from minorities, the disabled, mentally-ill, indigent and the elderly) to access healthcare and achieve self-care.(2-8)
    Overall, the authors deserve praise for advancing our understanding in this important subject.

    References:
    1. Longo DR, Schubert SL, Wright BA, LeMaster J, Williams CD, Clore JN. Health Information Seeking, Receipt, and Use in Diabetes Self- Management. Ann Fam Med. 2010 Jul 1;8(4):334-340.
    2. Protheroe J, Wallace L, Rowlands G, Devoe J. Health literacy: setting an international collaborative research agenda. BMC Fam Pract. 2009 Jul 10;10(1):51.
    3. Nielsen-Bohlman L, Panzer AM, Kindig D. Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion. Committee on Health Literacy, Board on Neuroscience and Behavioral Health, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2004.
    4. Howard DH, Sentell T, Gazmararian JA. Impact of health literacy on socioeconomic and racial differences in health in an elderly population. J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Aug;21(8):857-61.
    5. Parker RM, Wolf MS, Kirsch I. Preparing for an epidemic of limited health literacy: weathering the perfect storm. J Gen Intern Med. 2008 Aug;23(8):1273-6.
    6. Sentell T, Shumway M, Snowden L. Access to mental health treatment by English language proficiency and race/ethnicity. J Gen Intern Med. 2007 Nov;22 Suppl 2:289-93.
    7. Cheng E, Chen A, Cunningham W. Primary Language and Receipt of Recommended Health Care Among Hispanics in the United States. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2007 Nov 25;22(0):283-288.
    8. Schenker Y, Wang F, Selig S, Ng R, Fernandez A. The Impact of Language Barriers on Documentation of Informed Consent at a Hospital with On-Site Interpreter Services. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 2007 Nov 25;22(0):294-299.

    Competing interests:   None declared

    Show Less
    Competing Interests: None declared.
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Annals of Family Medicine: 8 (4)
The Annals of Family Medicine: 8 (4)
Vol. 8, Issue 4
1 Jul 2010
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
  • In Brief
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Annals of Family Medicine.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Health Information Seeking, Receipt, and Use in Diabetes Self-Management
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Annals of Family Medicine
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Annals of Family Medicine web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
9 + 8 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Health Information Seeking, Receipt, and Use in Diabetes Self-Management
Daniel R. Longo, Shari L. Schubert, Barbara A. Wright, Joseph LeMaster, Casey D. Williams, John N. Clore
The Annals of Family Medicine Jul 2010, 8 (4) 334-340; DOI: 10.1370/afm.1115

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Get Permissions
Share
Health Information Seeking, Receipt, and Use in Diabetes Self-Management
Daniel R. Longo, Shari L. Schubert, Barbara A. Wright, Joseph LeMaster, Casey D. Williams, John N. Clore
The Annals of Family Medicine Jul 2010, 8 (4) 334-340; DOI: 10.1370/afm.1115
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • INTRODUCTION
    • METHODS
    • RESULTS
    • DISCUSSION
    • Acknowledgments
    • Footnotes
    • REFERENCES
  • Figures & Data
  • eLetters
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Relationship between the latent profiles of health information-seeking behaviour and glycated haemoglobin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional survey in rural areas of China
  • Turning Points as Opportunities to Partner with Patients Living with type 2 Diabetes or Prediabetes
  • Effect of Disclosing Genetic Risk for Coronary Heart Disease on Information Seeking and Sharing: The MI-GENES Study (Myocardial Infarction Genes)
  • Harnessing Information Technology to Inform Patients Facing Routine Decisions: Cancer Screening as a Test Case
  • Ethics, Support for Care, Prevention, and What's Important
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Shared Decision Making Among Racially and/or Ethnically Diverse Populations in Primary Care: A Scoping Review of Barriers and Facilitators
  • Convenience or Continuity: When Are Patients Willing to Wait to See Their Own Doctor?
  • Feasibility and Acceptability of the “About Me” Care Card as a Tool for Engaging Older Adults in Conversations About Cognitive Impairment
Show more Original Research

Similar Articles

Subjects

  • Domains of illness & health:
    • Chronic illness
  • Methods:
    • Qualitative methods
  • Other topics:
    • Communication / decision making

Content

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Early Access
  • Plain-Language Summaries
  • Multimedia
  • Podcast
  • Articles by Type
  • Articles by Subject
  • Supplements
  • Calls for Papers

Info for

  • Authors
  • Reviewers
  • Job Seekers
  • Media

Engage

  • E-mail Alerts
  • e-Letters (Comments)
  • RSS
  • Journal Club
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Subscribe
  • Family Medicine Careers

About

  • About Us
  • Editorial Board & Staff
  • Sponsoring Organizations
  • Copyrights & Permissions
  • Contact Us
  • eLetter/Comments Policy

© 2025 Annals of Family Medicine