Pathways of Health Information-Seeking Behavior in Patients with Pulmonary Nodules: A Path Analysis

Background Health information-seeking behavior (HISB) plays a crucial role in empowering patients, especially those with pulmonary nodules, by facilitating informed decision-making and improving disease management. This study aims to explore the status and influencing factors of HISB in patients with pulmonary nodules using the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model, providing theoretical support and practical guidance to enhance their health literacy and self-management abilities. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in Suzhou, China, from February to June 2024. A total of 321 patients diagnosed with pulmonary nodules were included. Data were collected using a self-developed questionnaire and four validated scales: the Health Literacy Management Scale (HeLMS), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine direct and indirect relationships among the variables, and model fit was assessed using standard indices. Results The study found that health literacy significantly predicted health information-seeking behavior (HISB), with self-efficacy and illness perception acting as mediators. Social support also played a direct role in enhancing HISB. The SEM results showed that health literacy directly influenced HISB ( β  = 0.326, p  < 0.001) and indirectly affected it through self-efficacy ( β  = 0.106, p  = 0.002) and illness perception ( β  = 0.050, p  < 0.001). Social support showed a similar pattern, with direct ( β  = 0.220, p  < 0.001) and indirect effects ( β  = 0.113, p  < 0.001) on HISB. Conclusion This study highlights the critical role of health literacy, self-efficacy, illness perception, and social support in promoting health information-seeking behavior among patients with pulmonary nodules. Targeted interventions, particularly in enhancing health literacy and social support, are essential to improving HISB and facilitating better disease management. These findings provide valuable insights for developing personalized healthcare communication strategies and improving doctor-patient communication.