Saira Hanif Soroya, Aleeha Ilyas and Kanwal Ameen
Pakistan is a developing country where one of the rapidly growing diseases is diabetes. Well-informed diabetic patients are expected to improve the quality of life, self-care…
Abstract
Purpose
Pakistan is a developing country where one of the rapidly growing diseases is diabetes. Well-informed diabetic patients are expected to improve the quality of life, self-care behaviors and better cooperation with the health care team. The present study is designed to investigate the information behavior of diabetic patients, and to investigate the role of one institution that is working for diabetes management, treatment, education and counseling in Pakistan i.e. Diabetic's Institute Pakistan (DIP).
Design/methodology/approach
The “Embedded Design” based on the mixed methods research approach was adopted to carry out the current research. The study was mainly based on quantitative research design, quantitative data were collected through an adapted questionnaire, the supportive/supplementary qualitative data was collected through an in-depth interview of the medical director, observation record sheets and analysis of the available relevant documents i.e. prescription (prescription notepad with information), brochure and the website was applied.
Findings
Diabetic patients want to know about how to control diabetes and mostly rely on humans particularly health professionals and interpersonal networks. The use of books, journals, seminars, libraries is comparatively low. It is an important finding that health-related information is mostly required in national language by Pakistani patients. Lack of computer literacy and information overload were among the barriers that were reported by diabetic patients.
Practical implications
Health information seeking channels, formats and language preferences should be considered to design patients' cantered information services. Health information service providers i.e. government, health practitioners, health-related institutions and libraries should work in a liaison for creating health awareness. Identified barriers faced by diabetic patients are important to consider for designing health-related information services.
Originality/value
Investigating health information behavior is crucial particularly of the patients from developing countries. The study is first of its kind that is reported from Pakistan. The results of the study may help libraries, health professionals and diabetes-related organizations to design patient's centered policies and information-based services. These institutions may work together to create awareness and to help patients in managing their disease. The study findings are maybe helpful for other developing countries also.
Details
Keywords
Saira Hanif Soroya, Khalid Mahmood, Muhammad Shahid Soroya, Sumaira Hussain and Aleeha Ilyas
In the age of global warming where there is a need to go green in various sectors of life, it is also an urgent need for different IT industries and companies to incorporate green…
Abstract
Purpose
In the age of global warming where there is a need to go green in various sectors of life, it is also an urgent need for different IT industries and companies to incorporate green agenda. The green agenda is also dependent on human behavior. Therefore, it is equally important to explore the factors that positively affect green computing behavior. In this regard, contextual considerations are important. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore the green computing intent and behavior of heavy IT users, i.e. librarians underpinning the theory of planned behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
The study was based on a quantitative research design. A total of 181 survey-based online questionnaires were filled by Pakistani university librarians. The proposed hypothetical model was tested using structural equation modeling in SmartPLS v3.2.
Findings
The study findings confirm that attitude and perceived behavioral control have a significant positive impact on the intention to adopt green computing behavior (GC behavior) among academic librarians. The findings further reveal that green computing awareness proved a strong predictor of green computing behavior, as it not only affects GC behavior but also impacts positively on attitude and perceived behavioral control that ultimately affects GC behavior through intention.
Originality/value
The study argues that green computing behavior is dependent on several predictors that can be deployed to develop a positive behavior towards green computing. The study is important as it is the first time conducted on one of the heavy IT user groups, i.e. librarians.