University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 5-2011 The Information Behavior of Public Health Educators Working in Appalachia Karen Jean McClanahan [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Recommended Citation McClanahan, Karen Jean, "The Information Behavior of Public Health Educators Working in Appalachia. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2011. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/998 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Karen Jean McClanahan entitled "The Information Behavior of Public Health Educators Working in Appalachia." I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Communication and Information. Carol Tenopir, Major Professor We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance: John W. Haas, Robert E. Levey, Catherine A. Luther Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Karen Jean McClanahan entitled “The Information Behavior of Public Health Educators Working in Appalachia.” I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Communication and Information. Carol Tenopir, Major Professor We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance: John W. Haas Robert E. Levey Catherine A. Luther Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original Signatures are on file with official student records.) The Information Behavior of Public Health Educators Working in Appalachia A Dissertation Presented for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Karen Jean McClanahan May 2011 ii Copyright © 2011 by Karen Jean McClanahan All rights reserved. iii Acknowledgements This dissertation is five chapters of a document, but it is also a process representing a major chapter in the researcher‟s life. She would like to send her heartfelt appreciation to the members of her doctoral committee, who made this process as instructive, enriching and always as positive as possible. Particular thanks are due to Dr. Haas, for his insightful comments and fresh perspectives, and to Dr. Levey, for always communicating encouragement and a belief that things would turn out well, and to Dr. Luther, for bringing fresh ideas to the process. Dr. Tenopir is an amazing chair; how can a scholar of such magnitude, involved in so many projects and responsibilities, manage to always be available and supportive and full of good ideas for one little dissertation? The author considers herself so fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from her, and can think of no better way to thank Dr. Tenopir for all she has done than by saying, “You are truly the Coach Pat Summit of the academic world!” There is no sufficient way to thank the author‟s family for the layers and years and depth of their support. Suzie has been a constant source of inspiration and positive academic role modeling, and a motivational force of nature when needed. Grant continually personifies the love of learning and enthusiasm for ideas, along with well- timed Ph.D. Comics breaks, that help to keep one‟s research endeavors humming along. Bill never wavered in his patience and always communicated his pride about the ultimate outcome. The four-legged family members cannot read this for themselves, but clearly understand how much positive energy a wagging tail, a comforting purr, and a friendly whinny can add to any research. iv Abstract Public health educators serve as a vital interface between medical and public health authorities and community members for the dissemination of important information related to disease prevention and health promotion. Public health educators deliver packaged educational programs, develop their own original programs, field impromptu health questions, and conduct community health assessments. This dissertation research employed a survey in January 2011 to illuminate the information- related attitudes and activities of health educators working in public health departments in Appalachia. The research questions explored how these health educators find and use information, how they perceive their information needs and their abilities to find and evaluate information related to their work, their satisfaction with the information resources available to them, and the impact of the economic and health status of their county or region on their information behavior. Key findings include that respondents are frequent information seekers with high- speed Internet access, but they need better access to information and data related to their work. Respondents use the web heavily but have concerns about evaluating online information. Information literacy training must accommodate their workflows and budgets. Library resource use is currently low but has the greatest potential for meeting their complex needs. Suggestions include multi-dimensional collaborations between health educators and information professionals and a new, more information-centric role for health educators. v Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 Health & Information ...................................................................................................... 1 What is a Public Health Educator? ................................................................................. 8 What is Appalachia? ..................................................................................................... 22 The Importance of Information for Health Educators .................................................. 26 Research Questions Explored by the Study .................................................................. 30 Chapter 2 Conceptual Foundations, Related Research and Literature Review ............... 34 Information Behavior .................................................................................................... 34 Connections to Information Behavior Theories and Research ..................................... 41 Information Behavior As Defined By Occupation ....................................................... 43 Information and Public Health ...................................................................................... 45 Formative Interviews with Health Educators ............................................................... 52 Theoretical Foundation for the Study ........................................................................... 54 Chapter 3 Research Methods ........................................................................................... 62 Definition of the Population.......................................................................................... 62 Hypotheses .................................................................................................................... 70 Research Procedures and Data Collection .................................................................... 76 Operationalization of the Concepts and Variables........................................................ 94 Methods for Data Analysis and Statistical Tests ........................................................ 106 Pilot Test of the Survey............................................................................................... 109 Chapter 4 Results and Discussion .................................................................................. 110 Administration of the Survey Instrument ................................................................... 110 Participation in the Study ............................................................................................ 114 Responses to the Quantitative Measures..................................................................... 122 Question 14 & 15. Open-ended Responses................................................................. 143 Results of the Hypotheses Tests ................................................................................. 159 Chapter 5 Discussion and Recommendations ................................................................ 175 Key Findings ............................................................................................................... 175 Discussion and Recommendations ............................................................................. 180 Transforming the Role of the Health Educator ........................................................... 191 Directions for Future Research ................................................................................... 195 List of