Health information needs of women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a qualitative study

Glycemic control in women with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) is largely dependent on effective self-management. The adequacy of health information provided plays a critical role in determining self-management success. While existing studies recognise the importance of addressing health information needs, the specific needs of women with GDM in China remain unclear. Sixteen women diagnosed with GDM were recruited using purposive sampling from a tertiary general hospital in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted individually. The verbatim transcripts were analyzed by employing hybrid deductive-inductive qualitative content analysis. Health information needs were extracted for 3 domains and 10 topics. These include health information needs related to existence (disease, treatment, examination, childbirth); relationships (social support); and growth (dietary management, exercise management, blood glucose management, emotional management, and postnatal management). Based on ERG theory, this study identified patient-centered health information needs among women with GDM. The findings call for structured, staged, and accessible information services, with healthcare providers playing a key role in individualized assessment and trust-building. Future research should explore information prioritization and evaluate targeted strategies to improve self-management, clinical outcomes, and long-term health literacy in diverse GDM populations.