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Health Information Seeking Behavior (HISB) refers to the behavior and strategies used to attain, clarify, or confirm health information. The uptake of health information depends on system-level and individual-level factors. The purpose of the present study is to understand the sources from which Punjabi elders obtain COVID-19 vaccine-related information and their information seeking behavior. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 391 Punjabi elders aged 50+ years in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ontario. The survey questions included the need for COVID-19 vaccine information, the type of information sought, sources of information, and barriers to seeking information. Descriptive analysis was conducted using frequencies and percentages, and logistic regression was performed to understand the associations between participants' sociodemographic characteristics and HISB. The results suggested that Punjabi elders are more likely to use informal sources and less likely to seek information from health professionals and government health and wellness websites. The results also suggested that most participants do not cross-check their information with other sources and are more likely to cross-check the information with family/friends, compared to credible care providers, across all demographics. Ultimately, there may be a need for stakeholders to collaborate to regulate the accuracy and type of health-information that is disseminated through media, and to tailor health communication to the health information seeking behavior of this population.

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Background: Assault weapon and large-capacity magazine bans are potential tools for policy makers to prevent public mass shootings. However, the efficacy of these bans is a continual source of debate. In an earlier study, we estimated the impact of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban (FAWB) on the number of public mass shooting events in the United States. This study provides an updated assessment with 3 additional years of firearm surveillance data to characterize the longer-term effects. Objective: This study aims to estimate the impact of the FAWB on trends in public mass shootings from 1966 to 2022. Methods: We used linear regression to estimate the impact of the FAWB on the 4-year simple moving average of annual public mass shootings, defined by events with 4 or more deaths in 24 hours, not including the perpetrator. The study period spans 1966 to 2022. The model includes indicator variables for both the FAWB period (1995-2004) and the period after its removal (2005-2022). These indicators were interacted with a linear time trend. Estimates were controlled for the national homicide rate. After estimation, the model provided counterfactual estimates of public mass shootings if the FAWB was never imposed and if the FAWB remained in place. Results: The overall upward trajectory in the number of public mass shootings substantially fell while the FAWB was in place. These trends are specific to events in which the perpetrator used an assault weapon or large-capacity magazine. Point estimates suggest the FAWB prevented up to 5 public mass shootings while the ban was active. A continuation of the FAWB and large-capacity magazine ban would have prevented up to 38 public mass shootings, but the CIs become wider as time moves further away from the period of the FAWB. Conclusions: The FAWB, which included a ban on large-capacity magazines, was associated with fewer public mass shooting events, fatalities, and nonfatal gun injuries. Gun control legislation is an important public health tool in the prevention of public mass shootings.

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Content descriptions presented on sensitive-content screens reduce how often people view negative images. But does this reduction in exposure come at an emotional cost? Across two experiments, we investigated this possibility. In Experiment 1, we compared participants' change in state anxiety when exposed to sensitive-content screens with and without brief and detailed content descriptions. State anxiety was similar for participants who saw screens with and without brief content descriptions, but we found larger increases in state anxiety for detailed content descriptions. Therefore, detailed content descriptions negatively impact how people feel when they view sensitive-content screens. In Experiment 2, we presented participants with a single sensitive-content screen, either with or without a brief content description, and gave them the opportunity to uncover it. Participants who uncovered the screen viewed the negative image and then rated their distress. Most participants uncovered the screen and, irrespective of condition, reported similar image-related distress. Taken together, brief descriptions do not negatively impact how people feel when they view sensitive-content screens or the forewarned content. Therefore, brief content descriptions do not create an emotional cost. Social media platforms should move beyond merely warning about upcoming content and provide brief content descriptions indicating what the content depicts.

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OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to unravel micro-processes that link information seeking to subsequent affective well-being (i.e., positive and negative affect) at the within-person level, as well as the role of worry as a mediator in this relationship. METHODS AND MEASURES: Within the initial weeks following the Chinese government's relaxation of its epidemic control measures, 184 participants completed experience sampling methods on information seeking, COVID-related worry, and affective well-being three times a day for 14 days. RESULTS: According to dynamic structural equation models, information seeking was associated with high negative affect but not with low positive affect. COVID-related worry acted as a full mediator between information seeking at the previous time point (approximately 5 h ago) and the current negative affect, but not in positive affect. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that the impact of information seeking on affective well-being was different for the two dimensions of affect. Furthermore, the persistent impact of information seeking on negative affect was attributed to the indirect effect of worry, suggesting that worry should be a point of focus for intervention to mitigate the potentially negative effects of information seeking within the context of the public health crises.

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Introduction: This study investigates the mutual influence between online medical search and online medical consultation. It focuses on understanding the health information needs that drive these health information-seeking behaviors by utilizing insights from behavioral big data. Methods: We used actual behavioral data from Chinese internet users on Baidu platform's "Epidemic Index" from November 26, 2022, to January 25, 2023. Data modeling was conducted to ensure the reliability of the model. Drawing on the logistic model, we constructed a foundational model to quantify the evolutionary patterns of online medical search and online medical consultation. An impact function was defined to measure their mutual influence. Additionally, a pattern detection experiment was conducted to determine the structure of the impact function with maximum commonality through data fitting. Results: The analysis allowed us to build a mathematical model that quantifies the nonlinear correlation between online medical search and online medical consultation. Numerical analysis revealed a predation mechanism between online medical consultation and online medical search, highlighting the role of health information needs in this dynamic. Discussion: This study offers a novel practical approach to better meet the public's health information needs by understanding the interplay between online medical search and consultation. Additionally, the modeling method used here is broadly applicable, providing a framework for quantifying nonlinear correlations among different behaviors when appropriate data is available.

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Online Health Information Seeking (OHIS) serves as an alternative form of social capital that can help older adults alleviate offline medical-related stress. This study collected and analyzed user interaction data from Patient-to-Doctor and Patient-to-Peer platforms and compared the roles of social support between them. Significant differences were identified in the dimensions of social support (information, emotional, and companion) on the Patient-to-Peer platforms compared with Patient-to-Doctor platforms (p < 0.05). The overall and core-core network density values for social support on Patient-to-Peer platforms were higher than those on Patient-to-Doctor platforms. Patient-to-Doctor interactions focused on information support, displaying a more centralized and efficient network with structural holes pertaining to treatment effects. By contrast, Patient-to-Peer interactions provided more emotional support, with a dispersed and redundant network containing structural holes related to individual information. Companion support was found to be weaker on both platforms. Additionally, digital literacy, surrogate seeking, and altruistic information significantly explained the variances between the two platforms (p < 0.01), with surrogate seeking playing a crucial role. These findings enhance our understanding of OHIS disparities among older adults and their surrogates, offering valuable insights for developing effective support systems and regulatory frameworks for health information platforms.

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A common challenge facing public health practitioners and communication scholars is how to best change perceptions and increase favorable attitudes and awareness of health recommendations, such as help-seeking about depression. Given the need to identify persuasive ways to communicate depression, this study examined how discrete emotions, cognition, and engaging eHealth information-seeking behavior affected US adults' intentions regarding help-seeking about depression. The results from an online survey of 1422 US adults revealed (1) elated emotion and loving emotion; (2) depression consciousness; (3) attitude toward seeking help from mental health services; and (4) eHealth information-seeking significantly predicted intention to seek help from professionals. In addition, depression consciousness, attitude toward seeking help from mental health services, and eHealth information-seeking acted as sequential mediators for the relationship between elated emotion, loving emotion, and behavioral intention. Implications for health communication and depression communication research and practice are discussed.

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BACKGROUND: OpenAI's ChatGPT is a source of advanced online health information (OHI) that may be integrated into individuals' health information-seeking routines. However, concerns have been raised about its factual accuracy and impact on health outcomes. To forecast implications for medical practice and public health, more information is needed on who uses the tool, how often, and for what. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to characterize the reasons for and types of ChatGPT OHI use and describe the users most likely to engage with the platform. METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey, patients received invitations to participate via the ResearchMatch platform, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Institutes of Health. A web-based survey measured demographic characteristics, use of ChatGPT and other sources of OHI, experience characterization, and resultant health behaviors. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Both 2-tailed t tests and Pearson chi-square tests were used to compare users of ChatGPT OHI to nonusers. RESULTS: Of 2406 respondents, 21.5% (n=517) respondents reported using ChatGPT for OHI. ChatGPT users were younger than nonusers (32.8 vs 39.1 years, P<.001) with lower advanced degree attainment (BA or higher; 49.9% vs 67%, P<.001) and greater use of transient health care (ED and urgent care; P<.001). ChatGPT users were more avid consumers of general non-ChatGPT OHI (percentage of weekly or greater OHI seeking frequency in past 6 months, 28.2% vs 22.8%, P<.001). Around 39.3% (n=206) respondents endorsed using the platform for OHI 2-3 times weekly or more, and most sought the tool to determine if a consultation was required (47.4%, n=245) or to explore alternative treatment (46.2%, n=239). Use characterization was favorable as many believed ChatGPT to be just as or more useful than other OHIs (87.7%, n=429) and their doctor (81%, n=407). About one-third of respondents requested a referral (35.6%, n=184) or changed medications (31%, n=160) based on the information received from ChatGPT. As many users reported skepticism regarding the ChatGPT output (67.9%, n=336), most turned to their physicians (67.5%, n=349). CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the significant role of AI-generated OHI in shaping health-seeking behaviors and the potential evolution of patient-provider interactions. Given the proclivity of these users to enact health behavior changes based on AI-generated content, there is an opportunity for physicians to guide ChatGPT OHI users on an informed and examined use of the technology.

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BACKGROUND: Despite the potential benefits of using eHealth, sociodemographic disparities exist in eHealth use, which threatens to further widen health equity gaps. The literature has consistently shown age and education to be associated with eHealth use, while the findings for racial and ethnic disparities are mixed. However, previous disparities may have narrowed as health care interactions shifted to web-based modalities for everyone because of the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide an updated examination of sociodemographic disparities that contribute to the health equity gap related to using eHealth for information seeking using 3 time points. METHODS: Data for this study came from the nationally representative 2018 (n=3504), 2020 (n=3865), and 2022 (n=6252) time points of the Health Information National Trends Survey. Logistic regression was used to regress the use of eHealth for information seeking on race and ethnicity, sex, age, education, income, health status, and year of survey. Given the consistent association of age with the dependent variable, analyses were stratified by age cohort (millennials, Generation X, baby boomers, and silent generation) to compare individuals of similar age. RESULTS: For millennials, being female, attaining some college or a college degree, and reporting an annual income of US $50,000-$74,999 or >US $75,000 were associated with the use of eHealth for information seeking. For Generation X, being female, having attained some college or a college degree, reporting an annual income of US $50,000-$74,999 or >US $75,000, better self-reported health, and completing the survey in 2022 (vs 2018; odds ratio [OR] 1.80, 95% CI 1.11-2.91) were associated with the use of eHealth for information seeking. For baby boomers, being female, being older, attaining a high school degree, attaining some college or a college degree, reporting an annual income of US $50,000-$74,999 or >US $75,000, and completing the survey in 2020 (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.15-2.12) and 2022 (OR 4.04, 95% CI 2.77-5.87) were associated with the use of eHealth for information seeking. Among the silent generation, being older, attaining some college or a college degree, reporting an annual income of US $50,000-$74,999 or >US $75,000, and completing the survey in 2022 (OR 5.76, 95% CI 3.05-10.89) were associated with the use of eHealth for information seeking. CONCLUSIONS: Baby boomers may have made the most gains in using eHealth for information seeking over time. The race and ethnicity findings, or lack thereof, may indicate a reduction in racial and ethnic disparities. Disparities based on sex, education, and income remained consistent across all age groups. This aligns with health disparities literature focused on individuals with lower socioeconomic status, and more recently on men who are less likely to seek health care compared to women.

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BACKGROUND: A monkeypox (MPOX) outbreak occurred in May 2022. On June 3, 2022, the WHO Blueprint organized a consultation on MPOX research knowledge gaps and priority research questions because the engagement of health care providers (HCPs) in providing accurate information and the public's motivation to adapt protective behaviour were crucial. Thus, we conducted this study to explore the knowledge issues, animal patterns, and interactions of HCPs in the context of MPOX and COVID-19 during the MPOX outbreak. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional web-based survey among 816 HCPs working in governmental health facilities from many countries, mainly Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Cameroon, in September 2022. RESULTS: Four hundred and sixty (56.37%) were aged between 18 and less than 35 years old. About 34.44% were physicians, while only 37.25% worked on the frontlines with patients. 37.99% and 5.88% received vaccinations against chickenpox and MPOX, respectively. In the meantime, 55.39% had taken courses or training programmes regarding COVID-19. Regarding knowledge-seeking behaviours (KSBs) about COVID-19, 38.73% were through passive attention, while only 28.8% got their information through active search. Most of the participants (56.86%) had a moderate level of knowledge regarding COVID-19. Only 8.82% had courses or training programmes regarding MPOX. Regarding KSB about MPOX, 50.86% were obtained through passive attention, while only 18.01% and 23.04% got their information through active and passive search, respectively. Most of the participants (57.60%) had a poor level of knowledge regarding MPOX. The regression analysis of the MPOX knowledge score revealed that individuals working on the frontlines with patients and those who had training programmes or courses were shown to have a higher score by 1.25 and 3.18 points, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The studied HCPs had poorer knowledge about the MPOX virus than they did about the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Training programmes and education courses had an impact on their knowledge.

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In today's knowledge economy, it is critical to make decisions based on high-quality evidence. Science-related decision-making is thought to rely on a complex interplay of reasoning skills, cognitive styles, attitudes, and motivations toward information. By investigating the relationship between individual differences and behaviors related to evidence-based decision-making, our aim was to better understand how adults engage with scientific information in everyday life. First, we used a data-driven exploratory approach to identify four latent factors in a large set of measures related to cognitive skills and epistemic attitudes. The resulting structure suggests that key factors include curiosity and positive attitudes toward science, prosociality, cognitive skills, and openmindedness to new information. Second, we investigated whether these factors predicted behavior in a naturalistic decision-making task. In the task, participants were introduced to a real science-related petition and were asked to read six online articles related to the petition, which varied in scientific quality, while deciding how to vote. We demonstrate that curiosity and positive science attitudes, cognitive flexibility, prosociality and emotional states, were related to engaging with information and discernment of evidence reliability. We further found that that social authority is a powerful cue for source credibility, even above the actual quality and relevance of the sources. Our results highlight that individual motivating factors toward information engagement, like curiosity, and social factors such as social authority are important drivers of how adults judge the credibility of everyday sources of scientific information.

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BACKGROUND: Informal carers face difficulties and challenges when dealing with the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) of their family members or friends residing at home. Mobile health (mHealth) applications are promising for educating and supporting carers. However, needs analysis studies have not been conducted in Sri Lanka to develop mHealth applications for informal carers of people with dementia. AIMS: To explore the needs to design an mHealth application for informal carers of people with dementia concerning the management of BPSD. METHOD: An exploratory cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample (N = 203) of informal carers as a part of developing an mHealth application. Family members, relatives, or friends who lived with people with dementia and provided care on an unpaid basis for more than three months were included. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data, carer-rated prevalence and severity of BPSD, and informal carers' knowledge of dementia, carer burden, information-seeking sources, availability of smartphones, mHealth information seeking and perception of mHealth information seeking related to managing BPSD. Descriptive analysis and inferential tests were performed. RESULTS: Informal carers of people with dementia were predominantly female (70.4%), and 64% showed low knowledge of dementia. Of the participants, 35% reported a high carer burden, 53.7% reported a low burden, and only 11.3% reported no carer burden. Most of their care recipients (97%) had at least one BPSD. The prevalence and severity of BPSD were significantly and positively correlated with the carer burden. The participants' main source of information was health professionals. Most of them owned smartphones (63.5%), but none used mHealth applications for dementia-related information seeking. Approximately half of the respondents were ready to spend time (52.7%) and money (46.8%) on mHealth information seeking. Perceived mHealth usefulness was significantly associated with dementia knowledge, smartphone ownership, and readiness to spend time and money on mHealth information seeking. CONCLUSION: Informal carers of people with dementia were affected by BPSD in their care recipients. This study explored carers' educational needs concerning dementia, BPSD, and carer burden. Informal carers could adapt mHealth for dementia-related information seeking. Their unmet needs in managing BPSD should be explored.

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Reading violent stories or watching a war documentary are examples in which people voluntarily engage with the suffering of others whom they do not know. Using a mixed-methods approach, we investigated why people make these decisions, while also mapping the characteristics of strangers' suffering to gain a rich understanding. In Study 1 (N = 247), participants described situations of suffering and their reasons to engage with it. Using qualitative thematic analysis, we developed a typology of the stranger (who), the situation (what), the source (how), and the reason(s) for engaging with the situation (why). We categorised the motives into four overarching themes - epistemic, eudaimonic, social, and affective - reflecting diversity in the perceived functionality of engaging with a stranger's suffering. Next, we tested the robustness of the identified motives in a quantitative study. In Study 2, participants (N = 250) recalled a situation in which they engaged with the suffering of a stranger and indicated their endorsement with a variety of possible motives. Largely mirroring Study 1, Study 2 participants engaged to acquire knowledge, for personal and social utility, and to feel positive and negative emotions. We discuss implications for understanding the exploration of human suffering as a motivated phenomenon.

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PURPOSE: We aimed to synthesize the information needs of people with stroke (PwS) in recurrent stroke prevention. METHODS: In this scoping review we searched Medline (via PubMed), CINAHL, and PsycINFO from inception to June 5, 2023, to identify all studies describing the information needs of people 18 years and older who have suffered a stroke or transient ischemic attack within the past 5 years. We included qualitative and quantitative studies from developed countries published in German or English. Data analysis was performed following Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework for scoping reviews. FINDINGS: We screened 5822 records for eligibility and included 36 articles published between 1993 and 2023. None of the included studies used a comprehensive framework or defined information needs. Based on statements from PwS and their caregivers, PwS needed information on treatment, etiology, effects of stroke, prognosis, rehabilitation, discharge, life changes, care role, support options, information sources, and hospital procedures. The most frequently expressed needs were information on the treatment (77.8%) and stroke etiology (63.9%). The primary information source was healthcare professionals (85.7%), followed by written information (71.4%), family and friends (42.6%), and the internet (35.7%), with information provided directly by healthcare professionals being preferred. The timing of information transfer is often described as too early. CONCLUSION: PwS are primarily interested in clinical information about stroke, for example, treatment and etiology, and less often in information about daily life, for example, rehabilitation, the role of care, or lifestyle changes. PwS prefer to receive information directly from healthcare professionals. Developing a shared understanding of PwS's information needs is crucial to implement suitable strategies and programs for dealing with these needs in clinical practice.

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Background: Colorectal cancer is major public health concern in China. This study seeks to explore the role of online cancer information seeking in influencing colorectal cancer screening, by taking into account one's coping appraisals (i.e., self-efficacy, response efficacy), threat appraisals (i.e., perceived severity, cancer worry) and cancer fatalism. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 730 participants in China recruited from a Chinese survey company's online panels. Path analysis was performed to investigate the relationships between the key constructs. Results: First, online cancer information seeking increased both coping appraisals and threat appraisals. Second, threat appraisal did not significantly influence cancer fatalism, but coping appraisal reduced cancer fatalism. Third, cancer fatalism had no effects on colorectal cancer screening. Lastly, online cancer information also had a direct and positive relationship with cancer screening. Conclusions: This research emphasises the need for health organisations to offer timely cancer information to people, and educate them about the importance of cancer screening. Health authorities may also regulate online cancer information to ensure that the information is accurate and appropriate in improving people's cancer prevention and cancer screening knowledge.

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OBJECTIVES: Guided by the hedonic surplus/mood-as-resource hypotheses, we sought to identify message components that prevent health information avoidance by inducing hedonic psychological states. DESIGN: Two experimental studies. METHODS: Participants, age 45-75, recruited from the online survey platform, Prolific (Study 1 N = 288, Study 2 N = 505), completed a survey of their colorectal cancer (CRC) information avoidance tendency and demographics. They were reinvited to participate in a study where they were randomized to view one of four types of images: humorous comics, cute animals, coping messages or streetscapes images (control condition). To assess CRC information avoidance behaviour after viewing the stimuli, participants choose whether to be directed to a website to complete a CRC risk calculator (Study 1), or whether to view a CRC information video or a video about foot care (Study 2). Using logistic regression, we regressed each outcome variable on interactions between self-reported CRC information avoidance tendency and experimental condition. We then used the PROCESS macro to test if mood mediated these interaction effects. RESULTS: In Study 1, to the degree participants reported CRC information avoidance tendency, viewing humorous comics compared to control images increased their odds of choosing to view the risk calculator (OR = 5.26, p = .02). The same was true in Study 2 for choosing to watch the video about CRC vs. foot care (OR = 2.42, p = .04). Effects were not mediated through mood and there were no effects for the cute animals or coping messages. CONCLUSIONS: Using humour at the outset of a health message may increase reach to people who otherwise avoid CRC or other health messaging.

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The Internet is increasingly being used as a health information resource. This meta-ethnography aimed to synthesize the literature on how parents of children aged below 5 years' experienced using the Internet for health information purposes. We employed an interpretive meta-synthesis approach-meta-ethnography-according to Noblit & Hare's seven phases. A total of 22 articles met the inclusion criteria, representing four continents and with 650 participants, mainly mothers. We analysed and synthesized the primary studies into the following lines-of-argument synthesis representing a novel conceptual understanding of the phenomenon: Parents experience the Internet as "A cyber partner for child caring" being a 24/7 available "go-to" among other confined sources. Parents find ways of "patching together" trustworthy information in solicitude for their child's health while navigating between trust and anxiety. They relate online and share their experiences and secrets without being rejected. Clinicians and parents may benefit from "partnering" with this resource.

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BACKGROUND: In previous research, older adults have been associated with reduced levels of health literacy (HL) influenced by a range of contextual factors. To optimise HL, it is essential to better understand the interactions between the ageing process and both personal and environmental factors as perceived by older adults. This study aimed to explore the experiences and needs of older community-dwelling adults when accessing, understanding, appraising and using health-related information. METHODS: An explorative, qualitative design was used within the social constructivism framework. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 20 adults aged 70-96 living at home in three areas in Northern Iceland. The transcribed interviews were constructed into categories and subcategories using qualitative content analysis. FINDINGS: Four categories emerged. "Expectations for responsibility" describes the experience that individuals are responsible for taking care of their health, including accessing, understanding, appraising and using information and services, showing initiative and keeping needed communications active. "A gap between expectancy and ability/context" includes experiences while taking responsibility for expectations not aligning with skills/situations, creating information gaps. "Finding one's own ways" comprises various adapted ways to access, understand, and use information and services. "Bridging the gap" describes experiences of needing shared responsibility and more manageable options to enable reasoned health-related decisions and navigation in the healthcare system. CONCLUSIONS: The participants valued and took full responsibility for accessing, understanding, appraising and using information and services as part of a social norm; however, they experience information gaps. They request shared responsibility by being provided with fundamental health-related information as a vital step in making reasoned health-related decisions and navigating the healthcare system. They also request more inclusive and accessible service opportunities to bridge the gaps and facilitate HL. It is necessary to critically address, at a systematic level, the conflict between expected individual responsibility and the existence of options to act upon this responsibility. In matters of health, health services and HL, the need to analyse and confront structural disadvantages experienced by older adults is highlighted.

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BACKGROUND: Patients find technology tools to be more approachable for seeking sensitive health-related information, such as reproductive health information. The inventive conversational ability of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, such as ChatGPT (OpenAI Inc), offers a potential means for patients to effectively locate answers to their health-related questions digitally. OBJECTIVE: A pilot study was conducted to compare the novel ChatGPT with the existing Google Search technology for their ability to offer accurate, effective, and current information regarding proceeding action after missing a dose of oral contraceptive pill. METHODS: A sequence of 11 questions, mimicking a patient inquiring about the action to take after missing a dose of an oral contraceptive pill, were input into ChatGPT as a cascade, given the conversational ability of ChatGPT. The questions were input into 4 different ChatGPT accounts, with the account holders being of various demographics, to evaluate potential differences and biases in the responses given to different account holders. The leading question, "what should I do if I missed a day of my oral contraception birth control?" alone was then input into Google Search, given its nonconversational nature. The results from the ChatGPT questions and the Google Search results for the leading question were evaluated on their readability, accuracy, and effective delivery of information. RESULTS: The ChatGPT results were determined to be at an overall higher-grade reading level, with a longer reading duration, less accurate, less current, and with a less effective delivery of information. In contrast, the Google Search resulting answer box and snippets were at a lower-grade reading level, shorter reading duration, more current, able to reference the origin of the information (transparent), and provided the information in various formats in addition to text. CONCLUSIONS: ChatGPT has room for improvement in accuracy, transparency, recency, and reliability before it can equitably be implemented into health care information delivery and provide the potential benefits it poses. However, AI may be used as a tool for providers to educate their patients in preferred, creative, and efficient ways, such as using AI to generate accessible short educational videos from health care provider-vetted information. Larger studies representing a diverse group of users are needed.

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BACKGROUND: Online content can inform the personal risk of developing an eating disorder, and it can influence the time and motivation to seek treatment. Patients routinely seek information online, and access to information is crucial for both prevention and treatment. The primary aim of the current study was to quantify the readability scores of online content on eating disorders using natural language processing algorithms, across two languages: English and Italian. METHODS: Unique terms related to single diagnoses were searched using Google®. The content available on Wikipedia was also assessed. Readability was defined according to the Flesch Readability Ease (FRE) and the Rate Readability Index (RIX). The scientific support of retrieved content and the authoritativeness of sources were measured through standardized variables. RESULTS: In Italian, online content was more likely published by private psychotherapy institutes or by websites that promote diet-advice or weight-loss. In both languages, the most readable content was on Anorexia Nervosa (RIX 4.18, FRE-en 59.6, FRE-it 41.69), Bulimia Nervosa (RIX 3.99, FRE-en 66.27, FRE-it 39.66) or Binge Eating (RIX 4.01, FRE-en 68.10, FRE-it 38.62). English sources consistently had more references than Italian pages (range 35-182, vs 1-163, respectively). and had a higher percentage of citations available in the target language. The content of these references was mainly reflective of peer-reviewed or clinical manuals. CONCLUSION: Attention should be given to developing online content for Muscle Dysmorphia and Orthorexia Nervosa, as well as improving the overall readability of online content on eating disorders, especially for languages other than English.