Online Health Information Seeking Behaviors Among People With Diabetes: A Scoping Review

Introduction: Online health information seeking (OHIS) behavior has emerged as a common practice among people with diabetes. This scoping review aimed to map the literature on OHIS behaviors among people with diabetes, specifically their patterns of digital platform use and content preferences. Methods: This review was guided by the framework of Arksey and O'Malley. A search was conducted in November and December 2024 across the following databases: Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, SinoMed, CNKI, and Wanfang Data. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies were considered for inclusion. Results: A total of 41 eligible articles published between 2005 and 2024 were included. Three research questions were addressed: types and sources, incidence, influencing factors and barriers associated with OHIS behaviors. Moreover, commonly sought information concerned lifestyle management, peer support, and diabetes management, primarily from general internet, social media/blogs, and health websites. Socio-demographic (e.g., age, gender, occupation), diabetes related characteristics (e.g., diabetes type, disease duration), and motivational factors (e.g., activation) were identified as key factors influencing OHIS behaviors among people with diabetes. The incidence varied across survey times and continents, ranging from 11.30% to 96.00%. Additionally, three types of barriers to OHIS behaviors were identified, namely individual-related (e.g., interest, cost), equipment (e.g., unorganized information, internet design), and social related barriers (e.g., lack of social support, living area). Conclusions: This review reveals a substantial gap in understanding of OHIS behaviors among people with diabetes. Notable barriers to effective OHIS persist, particularly those related to information usability and accessibility. Future research should prioritize developing interventions to enhance the accuracy, readability, and personalization of online diabetes information and optimize search experiences. Moreover, efforts to improve the comprehension of complex medical content and deliver disease-stage-specific digital information will be essential to empower people with diabetes in effectively retrieving and using high-quality online health information.