An analysis of the information-seeking behavior of medical assistants at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background and aim: Information-seeking behavior refers to a set of activities individuals perform to meet their information needs. The need for information serves as the fundamental pillar of information-seeking behavior. This research aims to investigate the information-seeking behavior of medical assistants at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: This descriptive-survey study was conducted from November to January 2022. The statistical population consisted of 600 medical assistants from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, and a sample size of 234 assistants was determined using the Krejcie & Morgan table. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed based on studies by Huang et al. and Nelson and Tugwell. SPSS version 21 was used to analyze the data. Findings: The results revealed that assistants had the greatest informational needs regarding "virus prevention methods," "recognizing symptoms of infection," and "susceptible populations," with average scores of 4.12, 3.70, and 3.65, respectively. These needs differed significantly between men and women and among various age groups. The primary motivations for searching for information were "personal protection," "finding information for family and friends," and "obtaining the latest information," with average scores of 4.12, 3.99, and 3.81, respectively. Additionally, a significant relationship was observed between gender and the need for virus-related information. Conclusion: The study results indicated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, medical assistants at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences had a critical need for reliable and up-to-date information regarding the prevention and treatment of the COVID-19 virus. Their demand for practical information to safeguard themselves and their families along with concerns about the economic impacts of the pandemic reflect a complex and multidimensional pattern of information-seeking behavior during a crisis.