The presentation of health-related search results and its impact on negative emotional outcomes

Carolyn Lauckner; Gary Hsieh

doi:10.1145/2470654.2470702

The presentation of health-related search results and its impact on negative emotional outcomes

Carolyn Lauckner
, Gary Hsieh

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

Searching for health information online has become increasingly common, yet few studies have examined potential negative emotional effects of online health information search. We present results from an experiment manipulating the presentation of search results for common symptoms, which shows that the frequency and placement of serious illness mentions within results can influence perceptions of symptom severity and susceptibility of having the serious illness, respectively. The increase in severity and susceptibility can then lead to higher levels of negative emotional outcomes experienced-including feeling overwhelmed and frightened. Interestingly, health literacy can help reduce perceived symptom severity, and high online health experience actually increases the likelihood that individuals use a frequency-based heuristic. Technological implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	CHI 2013
Subtitle of host publication	Changing Perspectives, Conference Proceedings - The 31st Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Pages	333-342
Number of pages	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/2470654.2470702
State	Published - 2013
Event	31st Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems: Changing Perspectives, CHI 2013 - Paris, France Duration: Apr 27 2013 → May 2 2013

Publication series

Name	Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

Conference

Conference	31st Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems: Changing Perspectives, CHI 2013
Country/Territory	France
City	Paris
Period	4/27/13 → 5/2/13

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Health literacy
Negative effects
Online health information

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Software
Human-Computer Interaction
Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design

Access to Document

10.1145/2470654.2470702

Cite this

Lauckner, C., & Hsieh, G. (2013). The presentation of health-related search results and its impact on negative emotional outcomes. In CHI 2013: Changing Perspectives, Conference Proceedings - The 31st Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 333-342). (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings). https://doi.org/10.1145/2470654.2470702

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title = "The presentation of health-related search results and its impact on negative emotional outcomes",

abstract = "Searching for health information online has become increasingly common, yet few studies have examined potential negative emotional effects of online health information search. We present results from an experiment manipulating the presentation of search results for common symptoms, which shows that the frequency and placement of serious illness mentions within results can influence perceptions of symptom severity and susceptibility of having the serious illness, respectively. The increase in severity and susceptibility can then lead to higher levels of negative emotional outcomes experienced-including feeling overwhelmed and frightened. Interestingly, health literacy can help reduce perceived symptom severity, and high online health experience actually increases the likelihood that individuals use a frequency-based heuristic. Technological implications and directions for future research are discussed.",

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author = "Carolyn Lauckner and Gary Hsieh",

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language = "English",

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series = "Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings",

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Lauckner, C & Hsieh, G 2013, The presentation of health-related search results and its impact on negative emotional outcomes. in CHI 2013: Changing Perspectives, Conference Proceedings - The 31st Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings, pp. 333-342, 31st Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems: Changing Perspectives, CHI 2013, Paris, France, 4/27/13. https://doi.org/10.1145/2470654.2470702

The presentation of health-related search results and its impact on negative emotional outcomes. / Lauckner, Carolyn; Hsieh, Gary.
CHI 2013: Changing Perspectives, Conference Proceedings - The 31st Annual CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 2013. p. 333-342 (Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AB - Searching for health information online has become increasingly common, yet few studies have examined potential negative emotional effects of online health information search. We present results from an experiment manipulating the presentation of search results for common symptoms, which shows that the frequency and placement of serious illness mentions within results can influence perceptions of symptom severity and susceptibility of having the serious illness, respectively. The increase in severity and susceptibility can then lead to higher levels of negative emotional outcomes experienced-including feeling overwhelmed and frightened. Interestingly, health literacy can help reduce perceived symptom severity, and high online health experience actually increases the likelihood that individuals use a frequency-based heuristic. Technological implications and directions for future research are discussed.

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ER -

The presentation of health-related search results and its impact on negative emotional outcomes

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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