Health-related information resource use: an exploratory study of expectant mothers

Expectant mothers use various information resources when making health decisions. Resources include health professionals, eHealth resources, printed materials, family and friends. Pregnancy and parenting are times of constant change, driving information needs and are considered a context-rich area in which to study information behaviour. This exploratory research study examines what health-related information resources expectant mothers seek, how they process and utilise them. One key contribution of this research is a classification of Information Use, which includes three types: 1) Information Use as Access, 2) Information Use as Processing, and 3) Information Use as Outcomes. Leveraging this classification, we design and distribute an exploratory questionnaire. The results highlight that health professionals and eHealth resources are the most used and influential information resources for expectant mothers. The article also presents a list of criteria used to evaluate eHealth resources. Finally, we highlight the cognitive, affective, and behavioural information use outcomes experienced by expectant mothers.