Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, Knowledge and Information Science, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Knowledge and Information Science, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The study of health information seeking behavior is valuable. Based on this, the aim of the present study was to understand the role of the need for closure in the health information seeking of cancer patients.

Methods: The current research was a quantitative research in terms of the nature of the data, a fundamental research in terms of the purpose of the research, and a descriptive-correlation research in terms of data collection. The statistical population of the research was students from Shiraz University who themselves or their families had a history of cancer. Based on the purpose of the research, the targeted sampling approach and the snowball or chain sampling method used. The sample size was 212 people using J*Power software. The data collection tool was the questionnaire of Nellisen et al. (2015) and the questionnaire designed by Webster and Kruglanski (1994) and edited and summarized by Roots and Hill (2011). The collected data analyzed through Pearson’s correlation and simple regression tests using SPSS software version 23 analyzed.

Results: The research findings showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between the need for closure and health information seeking; In addition, the results of the simple regression test showed that the need for closure was a positive and significant predictor of health information seeking.

Conclusion: It is suggested to pay attention to the role of the need for closure in the health information seeking, and actions such as holding health information literacy training courses should also be planned.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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