Exploring breast cancer patients’ digital health information behaviours across the illness trajectory: a qualitative study informed by Uncertainty Management Theory (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Background: The digital transformation of healthcare is reshaping how breast cancer patients access and use information, yet little is known about how their digital information behaviours evolve across the illness trajectory. OBJECTIVE Objective: To explore stage-specific digital health information behaviours and the cognitive, emotional and social factors shaping decision-making. METHODS Design: Descriptive qualitative study informed by Uncertainty Management Theory. Setting: A tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China. Participants: Fifteen women with breast cancer. Methods: Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with purposive sampling across diagnostic, treatment and recovery phases; data were analysed using directed and inductive content analysis within a UMT framework. RESULTS Results: Five themes emerged, highlighting shifts from passive reception to active screening, complementary use of search engines, social media and AI tools, and the role of trust, emotion and social context in information acceptance or rejection. CONCLUSIONS Conclusions: Digital health information behaviours are dynamic and stage-specific, suggesting phase-tailored, nurse-led digital support.