Zoning out in health management: Exploring information non-behaviour among older Chinese immigrants with diabetes in Canada

Abstract

Current healthcare practices often assume that individuals actively seek and use health information; however, little is known about why some people do not engage in these behaviours. To address this gap, our study aims to explore information non-behaviour and examine the reasons for disengagement. A qualitative approach was employed, involving recruiting 20 participants through snowball sampling. The participants were older Chinese immigrants with diabetes in Canada. Data were collected through semi-structured, one-on-one interviews and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The study revealed that participants disengaged from active information behaviour by avoiding new information, passively accepting or ignoring what they encountered, failing to apply or critically assess it, and seldom sharing it with others. This non-behaviour was influenced by contextual factors (e.g., environmental barriers, access challenges, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic), social factors (e.g., viewing diabetes as a non-topic, social support networks, and doctor-patient interactions), and individual factors (e.g., health condition, coping mechanisms, perceived usefulness of information, and health literacy). The findings highlight the complexity of human behaviour and point to new avenues for future research. Practically, this research contributes to designing patient-centred educational programs, developing accessible and relevant communication tools, and fostering environments that encourage active information engagement.