Mobile Advantage: Context and Immediacy in Health Information Seeking

Mobile devices are changing health search because of the immediacy they provide and their integration of context. With the infiltration of mobile devices into populations who were traditionally less likely to have internet access, increased reach is possible. However, health literacy skills remain an issue as does privacy. Beyond browser-based health searches, mobile devices open a new set of challenges: how consumers locate health apps, learn about the credibility of apps, and if apps incorporate evidence-based guidelines. The talk will address these topics and will place an emphasis on the discussion of how these tools have changed how and when people seek health information.