This research examines how caregivers' information-seeking behaviors have been studied by analyzing research designs, theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, target populations, caregivers' information needs, information access and patterns of information use.
A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 69 articles published between January 2014 and December 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) and Library, Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA) databases database for analysis.
This study reveals a growing scholarly interest in caregivers' information-seeking behaviors, with an increase in publications since 2020. In terms of research design, there was a heavy reliance on exploratory methods, demonstrating the need for more theory-based explanations of caregivers' information behaviors. The findings also presented both a narrow scope and internal diversity within caregiver populations, as well as information needs reflecting a holistic and emotionally charged experience. Caregivers' ability to access and use health information was shaped by a combination of physical, intellectual and social factors.
This review contributes to a more comprehensive theoretical understanding of information behavior in high-stakes caregiving contexts and offers a foundation for future research aiming to inform the development of inclusive, culturally sensitive, and user-centered information services and interventions. The study is limited to articles indexed in two databases, focusing on peer-reviewed research only.
The focus on caregivers' health information behaviors in this systematic literature review study provides a novel insight for health information behavior researchers emphasizing the trends and needs for investigating caregivers.
