Consumer Health Information: A Narrative Review Publisher



Dehnavi M J ; Peyman N ; Mansourzadeh M J ; Amiri P ; Khatamifar S H ; Sheikhsoaei F
Source: Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran Published:2026

Abstract

Background: Consumer Health Information (CHI) encompasses the dissemination of information and the cultivation of appropriate attitudes toward healthcare, as well as specific professional skills, aimed at altering behaviors and enhancing the health status of consumers. The aim of this study was to introduce the concept, features, and associated issues of CHI, provide an overview of current research, and examine the information-seeking behavior of health information consumers. Methods: On February 28, 2025, the keywords consumer health information,health literacy,and their related terms were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and grey literature sources. Out of 1,058 retrieved records, 55 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed to extract the relevant characteristics. Results: The findings of this study indicate that consumer health information (CHI) is a dynamic concept that encompasses the provision of information and the enhancement of skills related to healthcare, with the aim of influencing behavior and improving consumers' health. A review of the existing literature demonstrates that the evaluation components of this concept encompass a range that includes comprehensiveness, credibility, readability, and usefulness. Furthermore, the Internet, social media, and artificial intelligence tools serve as the primary platforms for searching for and accessing such information. The results also suggest that challenges such as misinformation, information overload, and limitations in health literacy significantly influence information-seeking behavior, underscoring the necessity for increased attention to the role of librarians as trusted information intermediaries. Conclusion: The necessity of disseminating accurate and reliable health information tailored to consumers' needs is underscored by the increasing trend of scientific output in this domain in recent years. It is essential to develop standard guidelines and regulations, as well as to create appropriate infrastructure for CHI at the macro level. Furthermore, conducting economic studies to evaluate the return on investment and utility of CHI can aid policymakers in their decision-making processes. Copyright © Iran University of Medical Sciences. This work has been published under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.