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Table 1 Categories of information needs

From: Studies analysing the need for health-related information in Germany - a systematic review

Category

Information needs about (examples)

Aetiology

Causes of disease, risk factors, individual risk

Complementary and alternative medicine

Complementary and alternative medicine

Coping

Coping with pain, handling of disease in daily life, psychological support, spiritual support, self-help group

Diagnosis

Diagnostic procedures, examination results, progress of disease, symptoms

Financial/legal

Financial support, reimbursement of health insurance, entitlement for disabled people, social law, applying for pension, sick leave certification

Medical system

Contact data of different health care providers, quality data about health care providers, services of health insurances, ‘How many patients with a specific condition does the doctor treat’

Nutrition

Diet

Prevention/Health promotion

Screening tests, protection against risk factors, What can I do by myself

Prognosis

Course of disease, possible consequences

Rehabilitation

Possibilities of rehabilitation, clinics, payer, contact persons

Social life/interpersonal

Impact of disease on job, school, free time, daily life, partnership, sexuality

Treatment

Current treatment, treatment options, risks, benefits, advantages and disadvantages, side effects, physiotherapy