Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34757326›Full record

ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2021

Mapping Information Needs of Patients With Sexually Transmitted Infections Using Web-Based Data Sources: Grounded Theory Investigation.

Pavankumar Mulgund, Raj Sharman, Sandeep Purao, Sagarika Suresh Thimmanayakanapalya, Peter Winkelstein

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Pavankumar MulgundDepartment of Management Science and Systems, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-8434-5070
Raj SharmanDepartment of Management Science and Systems, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-5838-7330
Sandeep PuraoDepartment of Information & Process Management, Bentley University, Waltham, MA, United States.ORCID 0000-0002-9101-1105
Sagarika Suresh ThimmanayakanapalyaDepartment of Management Science and Systems, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.ORCID 0000-0001-9457-2963
Peter WinkelsteinDepartment of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.ORCID 0000-0003-3342-4611

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAccording to the World health organization (WHO), more than 1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired each day across the world. The incidence rates of STIs in the United States are at a record high for the fourth consecutive year. Owing to the stigma associated with the incidence of STI, there is a general reluctance to seek information in person. Instead, web-based information sources remain the primary avenues of information-seeking. However, these sources are designed without a comprehensive understanding of the information needs of individuals who have contracted STIs.

objectiveThis study aimed to investigate the information needs of individuals who have or suspect they have contracted an STI. A better understanding of their information needs can drive the design of more effective digital interventions.

methodsThis is a qualitative and analytical study of 549 transcripts (consisting of queries posted over the last 10 years) from web-based forums of the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA), which allows patients, volunteers, and health care providers connect anonymously. The analysis follows a grounded theory (GT) approach with multiple coding stages to uncover categories and themes.

resultsThree categories of information needs emerged. The first two, clinical and logistical, are similar to other contexts. However, our analysis shows that there is a significant need for the last category-psychosocial information. Approximately 59% of instances are linked to concerns such as confusion, discretion, remorse, and others. These needs vary across the stages of a patient's journey from symptom manifestation to treatment maintenance.

conclusionsResponding to the needs of individuals who have or suspect they have contracted an STI requires compassionate and personalized responses (beyond factual clinical and logistical information). Web-based forums provide anonymity but do not adequately incorporate mechanisms, practices, or incentives to respond to diverse psychosocial concerns. Innovative approaches to add such support can make the digital interventions more effective for this group of individuals.

Indexed as

Sexual HealthSexually Transmitted DiseasesGrounded TheoryHumansInternetSocial StigmaAmerican Sexual Health Associationgrounded theoryhealth information seekinginformation needsonline forumpatient journey mapssexually transmitted diseasessexually transmitted infectionstigmastigmatizing disorders

Identifiers

PMID34757326
PMCPMC8663461

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.