Conference Agenda (All times are shown in Eastern Daylight Time)

This study examined a potential paradigm shift in online health information search in the era of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). We systematically searched relevant literature, selected eligible studies using preset inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted and analyzed data. A total of 87 studies were included and examined across four research questions. We identified a significantly growing global interest in understanding and utilizing GenAI in health sciences, compared with traditional search engines (e.g., Google, Bing) and resources (e.g., human expert resources, clinical guidelines, organizational websites, and medical databases). This bibliometric survey highlights the potential and general positive sentiment of integrating GenAI tools like ChatGPT into healthcare information search, services, and research. Future research shall continue monitoring the dynamic and evolving landscape, exploring the opportunities and challenges of utilizing GenAI tools and features to ensure responsible applications and meet the information needs of all users.

Many COVID long-haulers have faced barriers to obtaining the information and support they need. As a result, they often turn to the stories others with long COVID have shared online and off, frequently sharing their own stories as well. We conducted a mixed-methods investigation into the information experiences of COVID long-haulers, seeking to understand the strategies they use to meet their information needs and the barriers they encounter. We surveyed 135 COVID long-haulers and conducted 29 follow-up interviews, focusing on the information-related aspects of their long COVID experience. In this paper, we report findings related to participants’ perceptions about the usefulness of reading other people’s stories and participants’ reasons for sharing (or not sharing) their own stories. Findings reveal that reading and sharing stories of personal experiences related to COVID/long COVID is very prevalent, and people have specific, though varying, reasons for engaging (or not) in these activities.

Guided by the dual-processing model of information credibility, this systematic literature review analyzes how young adults evaluate the credibility of social media influencer (SMI) content, synthesizing findings from 30 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2024. Findings show that credibility judgments are shaped by user motivations (e.g., social influence, platform dynamics), abilities (e.g., digital literacy, domain knowledge), and heuristics (e.g., source reputation, aesthetics). Eleven key constructs of SMI content credibility are identified, grouped under trustworthiness (e.g., honesty, relatability) and expertise (e.g., competence, authority). SMIs emerge as both trusted health communicators and potential sources of misinformation. The review emphasizes the importance of promoting digital literacy, promoting transparent platform design, and implementing regulatory safeguards to facilitate young adults’ accurate assessment of health information online.

In Saudi Arabia, mothers of autistic children face difficulties accessing accurate information and reliable support due to limited services and social stigma. This paper presents early findings from an ongoing qualitative study exploring mothers' information behaviour, including how they seek, evaluate, and use autism-related information via social media and AI tools. Based on interviews with six mothers, the study shows how social media provides emotional validation, peer support, and practical insights. Mothers evaluate content through repetition, personal experience, and ChatGPT, which is used to verify, simplify, or explain information. Alexa also became a communication aid for a blind autistic child. These findings reveal how mothers actively manage uncertainty and compensate for gaps in professional support. The paper contributes to understanding autism-related information behaviour in a Saudi context. It highlights the need for more accessible, accurate digital resources for underserved families lacking trained professionals, public awareness, and inclusive education options.