18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Caregivers may receive information at a rate far higher than their individual abilities to process. Hence, caregivers can cause less desirable health outcomes for their care recipients. This study sought to identify caregiver information overload in comparison to noncaregivers. Relating factors such as caregiving contexts, health status, and personal health literacy were also compared between caregivers and noncaregivers. Using a nationally representative survey, the Health Information National Trends Survey, the differences between caregivers and noncaregivers regarding information overload were compared. A total of 2,918 noncaregivers and 484 caregivers were identified. More than two-thirds of the study sample demonstrated information overload regardless of caregiving status. Male, less educated, lower income, married, and employed caregivers are likely overloaded with information. Caregivers with information overload show less healthy conditions and expressed more information seeking burden. Effective countermeasures of heavy information overload should be devised based on specific causes and their accompanying consequences.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)431-441
Number of pages11
JournalWestern Journal of Nursing Research
Volume43
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2020.

Keywords

  • caregivers
  • health information national trends survey
  • information overload
  • personal health literacy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Nursing

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