Table 2 Evidence level and role in the... | Emerald Publishing

Table 2

Evidence level and role in the synthesis

Evidence level	Example sources	Role in the argument
Direct Chinese immigrant or Chinese-speaking cancer evidence	Balneaves et al. (2018), Chiu et al. (2006), Leng and Gany (2014), Leng et al. (2014, 2020), Lim et al. (2019), Wen et al. (2014), Young et al. (2023)	Grounds the discussion of language, family mediation, TCM, support needs, culturally specific survivorship issues, and clinical communication
Closely related Chinese or Chinese-heritage evidence	Hu et al. (2020), Ma et al. (2021), Ng et al. (2021)	Extends the evidence base on digital support, family information needs, dietary practices, and culturally shaped health information practices
Comparator immigrant, minority, and underserved evidence	Akeeb et al. (2023), Bari et al. (2021), Butow et al. (2013), Coleman et al. (2024), Kakai et al. (2003), Kristoffersen et al. (2022)	Tests transferability and boundaries, especially for disclosure, communication, unmet needs, socioeconomic conditions, and minority cancer survivorship
General cancer-CAM information evidence	Hutten et al. (2023), Scarton et al. (2018), Johnston et al. (2025), Sansevere and White (2021), Huchel et al. (2024), Lam et al. (2023)	Supports the analysis of CAM information practices, exposure, trust, source evaluation, digital CAM content, and online communities
LIS and health information theory	Wilson (1983, 1997, 1999), Lloyd (2017), Dervin (1998), Savolainen (2008), Sonnenwald (1999), Erdelez (1997), Erdelez and Makri (2020), Sutton et al. (2019)	Provides the conceptual and methodological grounding for information behavior, information practices, discontinuity, encountering, cognitive authority, and review positioning

Evidence level	Example sources	Role in the argument
Direct Chinese immigrant or Chinese-speaking cancer evidence	Balneaves et al. (2018), Chiu et al. (2006), Leng and Gany (2014), Leng et al. (2014, 2020), Lim et al. (2019), Wen et al. (2014), Young et al. (2023)	Grounds the discussion of language, family mediation, TCM, support needs, culturally specific survivorship issues, and clinical communication
Closely related Chinese or Chinese-heritage evidence	Hu et al. (2020), Ma et al. (2021), Ng et al. (2021)	Extends the evidence base on digital support, family information needs, dietary practices, and culturally shaped health information practices
Comparator immigrant, minority, and underserved evidence	Akeeb et al. (2023), Bari et al. (2021), Butow et al. (2013), Coleman et al. (2024), Kakai et al. (2003), Kristoffersen et al. (2022)	Tests transferability and boundaries, especially for disclosure, communication, unmet needs, socioeconomic conditions, and minority cancer survivorship
General cancer-CAM information evidence	Hutten et al. (2023), Scarton et al. (2018), Johnston et al. (2025), Sansevere and White (2021), Huchel et al. (2024), Lam et al. (2023)	Supports the analysis of CAM information practices, exposure, trust, source evaluation, digital CAM content, and online communities
LIS and health information theory	Wilson (1983, 1997, 1999), Lloyd (2017), Dervin (1998), Savolainen (2008), Sonnenwald (1999), Erdelez (1997), Erdelez and Makri (2020), Sutton et al. (2019)	Provides the conceptual and methodological grounding for information behavior, information practices, discontinuity, encountering, cognitive authority, and review positioning