Modelling how the healthcare user acquires health information: Tasmanian case studies

This paper proposes a four-model framework for modelling the relationship between healthcare providers and healthcare users, and the associated acquisition of health information, modified from D'Alessandro and Dosa (2001) and Tomes (2007). Case studies were used to illuminate this investigation's research scope, rather than its research design, as is more usual. Using Keating's (1995) classification of case studies, this investigation presents four theory illustration cases, designed for theory refinement, seeking to establish the plausibility of the framework. The case study context used is the provision of healthcare to rural residents of Tasmania, the island state of Australia. This study found an occurrence of all four models from a search of the literature, which operated in parallel over similar time periods, within the case study setting. The findings were interpreted as supporting the plausibility of the framework. Further research will be needed to test the framework.