The information needs of adult Type 2 diabetic patients at Addington Hospital, Durban

Abstract

This study was based on a Master’s dissertation which investigated the information needs and information seeking behaviour of Type 2 diabetic patients at Addington Hospital in Durban. Longo’s 2010, Health Information Model provided the conceptual framework for the study. The study adopted a qualitative approach to survey the patients. A population of 74 adult patients with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes were individually interviewed. The results of the study reveal that the patients were prompted to look for information when a problem occurred, or when they wanted to treat a diabetes related problem. The patients’ reasons for seeking information were health related, to enable them to make better lifestyle choices and manage the side effects of diabetes. The study concluded that the patients relied heavily on the information provided by the doctor and they were satisfied with how the doctor conveyed the information to them. The study makes recommendations that could assist the patients satisfy their information need to health information relating to their chronic illness.

Innovation, no.45, December 2012