The project’s objectives are to

• build an ‘experts panel’ of information researchers within Edinburgh Napier University and established diabetes researchers and specialists.
• understand existing research on Information Avoidance by patients who have long-term conditions that they mostly manage
• decide exactly what to research, by finding gaps in existing research
• undertake interviews with diabetics and diabetes professionals to gather data
• understand what the data means
• publish at least one academic paper reporting findings, in a top Information Science journal
• publish at least one piece for diabetes professionals
• publish at least one piece for diabeticsThe pieces for professionals and diabetics may be published online (e.g. Diabetes UK website) as well as in printed formats.

Building on these objectives, the project team will apply for funding for a much larger piece of research into, for example, the effects of different healthcare systems and information provision in other countries on Information Avoidance.

Anticipated impacts

These include

• understanding of Information Avoidance in diabetes and other long-term, self-managed disease, is likely to benefit both patients (who may get better understandings of how they can tackle their conditions) and professionals (who will be better equipped to help their patients). The research is likely to benefit those who make decisions about provision of healthcare. Because diabetes affects people all over the world, the project may have world-wide impact.
• improvements in Information Science, by adding in a ‘reality-check’ that people don’t automatically search for all information that might help them
• enhance Edinburgh Napier University’s reputations in social informatics and healthcare.