scholarly journals Level of awareness of Saudi medical students of the internet-based health-related information seeking and developing to support health services

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bader Aldebasi ◽  
Abdulaziz I. Alhassan ◽  
Sami Al-Nasser ◽  
Mostafa A. Abolfotouh
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related

scholarly journals Level of awareness of Saudi medical students of the internet-based health-related information seeking and developing to support health services

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bader Aldebasi ◽  
Abdulaziz I. Alhassan ◽  
Sami Al-Nasser ◽  
Mostafa Abolfotouh
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Monthly Income ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background Background. Many studies are available in literature about e-health in Saudi Arabia, however, data is limited to a few organizations and does not necessarily reflect the the current and potential use of e-health for health care organizations in the country. The aim of this study was to determine the level of awareness of Saudi medical students of the internet-based health-related information seeking and developing to support health services and significant predictors of their practice. Methods. A cross-sectional survey of 440 medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was conducted, during October/November 2019, using a previously validated questionnaire, to assess: (1) knowledge in three domains; e-health definition (13 statements), fields of application of e-health (8 statements), methods of using e-health (7 statements), (2) attitude toward using e-health (8 statements) and (3) reported practice of e-health in medical training (5 statements). A scoring system was used to calculate the total and percentage score of knowledge, attitude and practice for each student. Multiple regression analysis was applied to identify predictors of e-health practice. Significance was considered at p<0.05. Results. Of 440 medical students surveyed, the majority were females (55.7%) and from families whose monthly income was more than 10,000SR (82.8%). Overall knowledge about e-health was unsatisfactory (percentage mean score, PMS=71.6%), with only 43.6% of students reporting satisfactory level. However, this level was satisfactory for fields of application (Percentage mean score-PMS=76.6%) and unsatisfactory for definition of e-health (PMS=70.7%) and methods of its use (PMS=65.7%) domains. Overall attitude towads e-health use was positive (PMS=82.3%), with nearly three-quarters of students (73.4%) reporting positive attitude. Generally, good level of practice of e-health was reported by students (PMS=84.3%), with more than three-quarters of students (78.4%) reporting good practice. Adjusting for age, gender, stream, educational grade and family monthly income, good practice was significantly predicted with higher knowledge (t=2.22, p=0.03) and attitude (t=2.11, p=0.04) scores. Conclusion. This study provides basic information regarding medical students’ level of awareness of internet-based health-related information seeking and developing to support health services. More resources should be directed to elevate medical students’ knowledge and to motivate them to practice e-health using the available tools.

scholarly journals Level of awareness of Saudi medical students of the internet-based health-related information seeking and developing to support health services

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bader Aldebasi ◽  
Abdulaziz I. Alhassan ◽  
Sami Al-Nasser ◽  
Mostafa Abolfotouh
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Monthly Income ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related

Abstract Background. Many studies are available in the literature about e-health in Saudi Arabia, however, data is limited to a few organizations and does not necessarily reflect the current and potential use of e-health for health care organizations in the country. This study aimed to determine the level of awareness of Saudi medical students of the internet-based health-related information seeking and developing to support health services and significant predictors of their practice.Methods. A cross-sectional survey of 440 medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was conducted, during October/November 2019, using a previously validated questionnaire, to assess: (1) knowledge in three domains; e-health definition (13 statements), fields of application of e-health (8 statements), methods of using e-health (7 statements), (2) attitude toward using e-health (8 statements) and (3) reported practice of e-health in medical training (5 statements). A scoring system was used to calculate the total and percentage score of knowledge, attitude, and practice for each student. Multiple regression analysis was applied to identify predictors of e-health practice. Significance was considered at p<0.05. Results. Of 440 medical students, the majority were females (55.7%) and from families whose monthly income was more than 10,000SR (82.8%). Overall knowledge about e-health was unsatisfactory (percentage mean score, PMS=71.6%), with only 43.6% of students reporting a satisfactory level. However, this level was satisfactory for fields of application (Percentage mean score-PMS=76.6%) and unsatisfactory for the definition of e-health (PMS=70.7%) and methods of its use (PMS=65.7%) domains. The overall attitude towards e-health use was positive (PMS=82.3%), with nearly three-quarters of students (73.4%) reporting a positive attitude. Generally, a good level of practice of e-health was reported by students (PMS=84.3%), with more than three-quarters of students (78.4%) reporting good practice. Adjusting for age, gender, stream, educational grade, and family monthly income, good practice was significantly predicted with higher knowledge (t=2.22, p=0.03) and attitude (t=2.11, p=0.04) scores.Conclusion. This study provides basic information regarding medical students' level of awareness of internet-based health-related information seeking and developing to support health services. More resources should be directed to elevate medical students' knowledge and to motivate them to practice e-health using the available tools.

The use of online health related information by medical students and their trust in the retrieved information

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Khajouei ◽  
Zahra Karbasi ◽  
Moghaddameh Mirzaee ◽  
Arefeh Ameri ◽  
Leila Ahmadian
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Health Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Use Of The Internet

Abstract Background The Internet plays an important role in attaining health related information and its importance is growing worldwide. The majority of Internet users are university students. However, their use of the Internet for health information has not been well studied. The objective of this study was to examine the use of the Internet by medical students to search for health information. Methods This cross-sectional survey was performed on a sample of 400 Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacology students selected from three faculties. The data were collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire designed based on the review of the published literature and advice of a panel of experts. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20 using Chi-square and Logistic regression.Results In this study 261 (65.2%) students used the Internet to search for health information. Most of them (n=175, 67%) somewhat trusted the reliability of information on the Internet. Women used the Internet to search for health information 1.74 times than men (p=0.016) and Medicine students 1.7 times than Pharmacology students (p=0.04). The majority of 20-30 years old students believed that using Internet had no effect on their visits to physicians(p=<0.0001). It reduced the number of visits in all students older than 30. Conclusions The content of online resources needs to be monitored in terms of its credibility for using by students especially those involved in health care domain. Based on our findings most students somewhat trusted the online health information. This is promising for the universities to plan for investment on online education and materials.

scholarly journals ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION SEEKING DURING ADOLESCENCE: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY REGARDING ROMANIAN TEENAGERS

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Catalina Duduciuc
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Academic Researchers ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Online Health Information Seeking ◽  
Source Of Information

How Internet is used by individuals from different age groups to keep their health in check has become one of the major issue of both academic researchers and policy makers. The topic derives mainly from 2000-2014 data which converge towards an Internet accessing pattern as source of information regarding health. Previous studies showed that teenagers are the main consumers of the Internet and they often start surfing for online health concerns on social media (Facebook, Twitter) and popular engines (Google, Yahoo). The current paper describes how Romanian teenagers (N=161, aged 14-19) browse for online topics to keep their health in check. Based on a questionnaire, the data revealed that the Internet is used to a certain extent by more than a third of the respondents for health topics and over half of them consider that the health related information helped them to achieve a good trim. Overall, the research outcomes showed that the adolescents seem less interested in using Internet for health information and sometimes challenge the credibility of online health content.

Community pharmacists’ perspectives of online health-related information: A qualitative insight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 132-139
Author(s):  
Ong See Wan ◽  
Mohamed Azmi Hassali ◽  
Fahad Saleem
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
Website Evaluation ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related

Background: The Internet is a resource used by health professionals as well as the public to access health information. Within this context, little is reported on community pharmacists’ (CPs’) perceptions of online health-related information. The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes of Malaysian CPs towards online health-related information. Methods: A qualitative research method was adopted with face-to-face interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit a convenient sample of CPs who were practising in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed by the research team using a thematic content analysis framework. Results: Eleven CPs participated in the study. Participants reported that online health-related information was accessible, useful, fast, and in some respects, the Internet is a unique source of information. It was reported that there was a need to establish websites for trusted information. CPs also reported that training was needed in Internet searching and website evaluation skills. Most information accessed by CPs related to drugs and diseases and to knowledge-based information. Barriers to efficacy of Internet usage were related to the reliability and volume of information available on the Internet. Conclusion: Frequent use of online health-related information among CPs was reported. Many CPs supported the use of the Internet for health-related information but certain reservations were also reported. An analysis of the reasons for information seeking and barriers suggests that a wider range of influences on health information seeking should be investigated.

scholarly journals Is Health Literacy Associated with Health-Related Information Seeking Behavior Using Technology? (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hee Yun Lee ◽  
Seok Won Jin ◽  
Carrie Henning-Smith ◽  
Jongwook Lee ◽  
Jaegoo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Information Seeking Behavior ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Access To Technology ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Health Related

BACKGROUND None. OBJECTIVE To investigate health-related information-seeking using the Internet and its relationship with health literacy, access to technology, and socio-demographic characteristics. METHODS Data come from 614 adults in Minnesota who answered a survey on health literacy, access to technology, and health-related information-seeking Internet use. We used a cross-sectional, multivariate regression design to assess the relationship between health-related information-seeking on the Internet and health literacy and access to technology, controlling for socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS Better health literacy and greater access to technological devices were both associated with more health-related information-seeking behavior on the Internet, after adjusting for all other socio-demographic characteristics. Possession of a graduate degree, female gender, poor health, participation in social groups, and having an annual health exam were all associated with online health-related information-seeking as well. CONCLUSIONS Higher health literacy and better access to technology are associated with more online health-related information-seeking. Online health-related information-seeking also varies by socio-demographic characteristics. Practice Implications: Access to online health-related information is not uniformly distributed throughout the population, which may exacerbate disparities in health and healthcare. Research, policy, and practice attention are needed to address disparities in access to health information, as well as to ensure the quality of that information.

scholarly journals Health-Related Internet Use in Hard-to-Reach Populations: Empirical Findings From a Survey in a Remote and Mountainous Province in China (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
HongMin Li ◽  
Jin Xu ◽  
Lingui Li ◽  
Qingyue Meng
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health Related

BACKGROUND The expanding use of the internet contributes to more effective searches for health-related information and opens up opportunities for direct Web-based communication with health care professionals. However, little is known about how users’ characteristics on the demand side influence health-related internet use, especially in remote and rural areas within developing countries. The absence of accurate estimates of users’ characteristics and their impact on adaptations of health care services in developing countries constrains focused policy-centered discussions and the design of appropriate policies. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of health-related internet use and to identify its determinants in a remote province in China. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey in June and July of 2018 in Ningxia, located in northwestern China. Rural households were selected by multistage random sampling, and households’ key members were interviewed face-to-face at the respondents’ home. Dependent variables were whether the households use Web health services or not. Independent variables were chosen based on the Andersen behavioral model. Sociodemographic characteristics were compared between households that used health-related Web services with nonusers. We applied logistic regression models to evaluate multivariate associations between respondents’ characteristics and their usage of Web-based health services and obtained odds ratios with 95% CI. RESULTS A total of 1354 respondents from rural households were interviewed, of whom 707 (52.22%) were men. The mean age of the respondents was 44.54 years (SD 10.22). Almost half of the surveyed households (640/1354, 47.27%) reported using 1 or more Web-based health care services, whereas 37.8% (502/1354) reported using the internet to obtain health-related information, 15.51% (210/1354) used the internet to communicate with professionals about health issues, and 7.24% (98/1354) had engaged in Web-based consultations in the last year. After controlling for potential confounders, households engaged in health-related internet use were found to be wealthier, have higher health demands, and have less geographic access to high-quality health care compared with other households. CONCLUSIONS The internet has become a major health information resource in rural Ningxia. Social structures, family enabling factors, health needs, and characteristics relating to health care access were significant predictors of households’ health-related internet use in rural and remote areas in China. Those who belong to older age groups, have low income, and whose education levels do not extend beyond primary school education are significantly less likely to use Web-based health care services and to benefit from Web-based health care programs. A need for continued collaborative efforts involving multiple stakeholders, including communities, Web-based and other health care providers, family members, and the government is needed.

scholarly journals Elderly’s Attitude towards the Selected Types of e-Health

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blanka Klimova ◽  
Petra Maresova ◽  
Sunwoo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Services ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Domains ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
General Preference ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Selection Of

This current study was sought to explore how older adults’ adaptation of information and communication technology (ICT) devices was associated with their preference for e-Health services. A total of 224 Czech older adults aged 60+ were analyzed for the study. The sample comprised 21% male and 79% female. A self-reported survey questionnaire was employed to assess the prevalence of the use of ICT devices and the Internet and general preference for e-Health services. A series of t-tests were performed between and within two groups divided into e-Health supporters and non-supporters. The results indicated that nearly half of the respondents preferred to use the Internet for searching for health-related information. We found that older adults’ use of ICT devices and educational level was significantly associated with the selection of the e-Health services. However, gender, household type, and the place for a residence did not count additional variance for the preferred e-Health services. For those who express willingness to receive the e-Health service, the preferred e-Health services should be implemented across relevant health domains. To do so, health professionals ought to provide the necessary equipment and educational programs that help older adults better access and adapt to e-Health services.

The Impact of a Highly Publicized Celebrity Suicide on Suicide-Related Online Information Seeking

Crisis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Arendt ◽  
Sebastian Scherr
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Search Queries ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Celebrity Suicide ◽  
Online Information Seeking ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Background: Research has already acknowledged the importance of the Internet in suicide prevention as search engines such as Google are increasingly used in seeking both helpful and harmful suicide-related information. Aims: We aimed to assess the impact of a highly publicized suicide by a Hollywood actor on suicide-related online information seeking. Method: We tested the impact of the highly publicized suicide of Robin Williams on volumes of suicide-related search queries. Results: Both harmful and helpful search terms increased immediately after the actor's suicide, with a substantial jump of harmful queries. Limitations: The study has limitations (e.g., possible validity threats of the query share measure, use of ambiguous search terms). Conclusion: Online suicide prevention efforts should try to increase online users' awareness of and motivation to seek help, for which Google's own helpline box could play an even more crucial role in the future.

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