%0 Journal Article
%T Systematic review of methods and tools for assessing informal caregivers’ health information needs
%A Dobrogowska-Schlebusch, Ewa
%A Niedźwiedzka, Barbara
%J Public Health and Governance
%V 2015
%R 10.4467/20842627OZ.15.029.4787
%N Volume 13, Issue 3
%P 283-294
%K data collection methods, family caregivers, information needs, research methods
%@ 1731-7398
%D 2016
%U https://ejournals.eu/en/journal/zdrowie-publiczne-i-zarzadzanie/article/systematyczny-przeglad-metod-i-narzedzi-badania-zdrowotnych-potrzeb-informacyjnych-rodzinnych-opiekunow-osob-chorych-i-niepelnosprawnych
%X 
	Introduction. Assessment of the information needs of patients and their family caregivers is considered as the foundation from which to develop patient-centred services. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the studies published in a last 5 years on family caregivers’ health information needs in order to find out if there is any standard method to perform information needs assessment in the area of healthcare.

	Methods. Search of the literature from the last five years was conducted using Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ERIC, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, LISTA and Polska Bibliografia Lekarska yielding 2869 articles. Of these, 79 studies were included in the review. 

	Results. Most included studies (33 + 4) used a qualitative or mixed design; there were no observational or experimental research included into review. In three studies existing theory was tested and only one study was of methodological character. Only four included studies used a longitudinal design. The sample population in qualitative studies usually is not representative, what does not allow generalization.

	Conclusion. Systematic review of research into family caregivers’ health information needs confirms that within the field of health information needs research there is neither prevailing method to assess them, nor established theoretical background (concepts, standard terminology, dominating models).