Health Information–Seeking Behavior in Dementia Caregiving: Family Caregivers' Experiences and Preferences

Purpose: Dementia profoundly affects individuals and their family caregivers, who often lack training and resources, making effective health information–seeking behavior (HISB) critical for caregiving and stress reduction. The current pilot study explored caregivers' HISB and its associations with caregiver characteristics to inform targeted interventions. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 36 family caregivers of persons with dementia. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and content analysis were used to examine HISB patterns and related factors. Results: Caregivers expressed high confidence in seeking health information but faced practical challenges in accessing and using this information. They strongly trusted information from health care professionals, dementia organizations, and pharmacists, whereas informal sources were less trusted. Income, caregiving duration, and caregiving time influenced HISB experiences and trust. Conclusion: Despite confidence, caregivers encountered barriers in health information search and use. Nursing interventions should promote accessible, easy-to-use, trustworthy resources tailored to caregivers' unique information needs and caregiving demands.