Hälsopedagogers informationspraktik

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study is to gain knowledge of the information related activities of health educators. Health educators have been interviewed about how they search for and use information, how they motivate their choice of information resources and how they keep up with research and new insights within their profession. Using a theoretical framework based on a model developed by Pamela McKenzie (2003) together with Wilson’s (1983) concept of cognitive authority, different features of the information practice emerged in the empirical material.The method used in this study is semi-structured interviews with seven health educators, who work at training centers, preventive community centers and in occupational health services. Different information related activities could be identified using categories based on McKenzie’s terminology: active seeking, active scanning, non-directed monitoring and information seeking by proxy. As is well known from earlier research seeking information through colleagues was common, and observing how colleagues use their bodies emerged as another information related activity. Health educators also developed certain strategies using information from health authorities in response to clients’ questions about popular diets and training methods. It was found that McKenzie’s model which is developed from everyday life information seeking, could be adapted to investigate information practices in working life.