Lay information provision in community settings: How community health nurses disseminate human services information to the elderly

In this ethnographic study, Mark Granovetter's theory of the strength of weak ties was used to investigate the flow of human services information (HSI) among nurses and the elderly at neighborhood foot clinics. Analysis of observation and interview data revealed that nurses were, indeed, bridging weak ties--who played an important role in linking seniors with local services, because they provided HSI in a caring manner that seniors associated with strong ties. Although nurses were not always aware of their HSI-giving role and referral behavior, they used various techniques to identify seniors' needs and often used strategies to persuade clients to use their information. Among other findings were "missed opportunities" and affective aspects of information giving. Seniors reported using HSI in ways that differed from what nurses intended, which suggests that information helps in indirect ways. Overall, the clinic setting was identified as a rich information ground that fosters the informal sharing of HSI among all participants through social interaction. The study's novel approach and findings may be applicable to other situations regarding information behavior among clients and professionals.