College Students’ Trust in the Internet Information during the COVID-19 crisis and the Influences of Traceable Information Sources：A Cross-Sectional Survey (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiong Chen ◽  
Hong Wu
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Impact Factors ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Epidemic Period ◽  
Normal Period ◽  
Trust Degree ◽  
Internet Information

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic began in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and is rapidly spreading worldwide with over 2.3 million cases as of May 2020. In China, the new generation has grown with the development of the Internet, and the way they receive information is different from others and exist specific characteristics. For example, college students are more susceptible to friends, especially those with a professional background. Their trust in information sources is generally low, which has been proved in prior studies. However, little is known about how to improve their trust in information sources, especially during the COVID-19 outbreak. OBJECTIVE This paper investigates the trust degree of college students to the Internet information on epidemic and the influences of demographic characteristics. And to explore, for college students, whether traceable information sources are more reliable than ordinary information sources. METHODS This study conducted an online questionnaire survey among college students via the professional survey website Wen Juan Xing (https://www.wjx.cn) and used the Likert score table to measure the trust score of seven different channels. By using the Rank-sum test and univariate regression, we investigate the difference between trust in peacetime and trust during epidemic situations, the effect of information sources, and impact factors of information trust. RESULTS In total, 466 respondents completed the survey with a total of 398 valid questionnaires were obtained, including 166 (41.7%) men and 232 (58.3%) women. Single-factor regression analysis proved that college students’ trust in epidemic information was related to whether they studied in Wuhan or majored in medicine or biology (p<.05).The results of Rank-sum test showed that the trust degree of college students to the Internet health information was lower than that of the normal period in the epidemic period (p<.01, Z<0). Another group of Rank-sum tests showed that for college students the information with traceable information source is more reliable than that with general information source (p<.01, Z<0). CONCLUSIONS This study found that during the outbreak of COVID-19, college students’ trust in online health information was lower than usual, and was related to whether they majored in the medicine-related fields or studied in Wuhan. At present, little research has examined how to improve the trust of information for people with a high academic background, and according to the research results. Our study fills this gap and found that the Internet information with a traceable information source can significantly increase college students’ trust, which provides the mass media or other information channels with options and considerations when faced with college-educated people such as college students who want to increase the credibility of their information.

scholarly journals Sources and Reasons for Seeking Health Information by Lithuanian Adults

Medicina ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daiva Marazienė ◽  
Jūratė Klumbienė ◽  
Jūratė Tomkevičiūtė ◽  
Irena Misevičienė
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Sources Of Health Information ◽  
Lower Education ◽  
Health Information Sources ◽  
Health Monitor

The aim of this study was to assess the attitudes of Lithuanian adults aged 20–64 years toward the reasons for accessing health information and to determine the main health information sources and their relation to sociodemographic factors. Material and Methods. The data for this study were gathered in 2008 within the framework of the International Project Finbalt Health Monitor evaluating health behavior in a Lithuanian adult population. Results. More than half of respondents searched for health information during the last year. Men were 2.7 times more likely to trust friends and family as a health information source compared with women. For each 1-year increase in age, the odds of using friends and family, and the Internet as the main sources of health information decreased, while the odds of using people with the same condition and different means of media increased. Marital status was associated with greater trust in health professionals and the Internet as health information sources. Higher education was positively associated with more frequent reporting courses and lectures, and the Internet as the sources of health information, while those with lower education preferred television and radio. Conclusions. This study revealed the characteristics of the “risk group” in terms of the sources of health information that people, assigned to it, tend to use, and it is especially important when providing health information.

Health information needs, sources, and barriers of primary care patients to achieve patient-centered care: A literature review

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 992-1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina A Clarke ◽  
Joi L Moore ◽  
Linsey M Steege ◽  
Richelle J Koopman ◽  
Jeffery L Belden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Medical Condition ◽  
Information Access ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Common Information ◽  
Primary Care Patients

To synthesize findings from previous studies assessing information needs of primary care patients on the Internet and other information sources in a primary care setting. A systematic review of studies was conducted with a comprehensive search in multiple databases including OVID MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus. The most common information needs among patients were information about an illness or medical condition and treatment methods, while the most common information sources were the Internet and patients’ physicians. Overall, patients tend to prefer the Internet for the ease of access to information, while they trust their physicians more for their clinical expertise and experience. Barriers to information access via the Internet include the following: socio-demographic variables such as age, ethnicity, income, education, and occupation; information search skills; and reliability of health information. Conclusion: Further research is warranted to assess how to create accurate and reliable health information sources for both Internet and non-Internet users.

scholarly journals Anxiety, Knowledge and Help: A Model for How Black and White College Students Search for HIV/AIDS Information on the Internet

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Smith
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Black Students ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Literacy Training ◽  
Aids Information ◽  
White College ◽  
Hiv Aids

Using the "think aloud" protocol, which allows for the collection of data in real time, the researcher audio taped comments from 13 white college students from a predominately white university in the Southeastern United States and 15 black students from a predominately black university, as they explained how they searched for HIV/AIDS information on the Internet. A grounded theory analysis of the tapes revealed a three-stage model that students progressed through as they searched for HIV/AIDS information on the Internet. That model also revealed that all of the white students searched for general information about HIV/AIDS on the Internet, while all black students searched for general and specific information about how the disease affected the African-American community. Eighty percent of students regardless of race did not know how to properly search for online health information. The researcher discusses the need for online health information literacy training, the theories that might explain why black students searched the way that they did, and the challenges to providing culturally-sensitive online health information literacy training for African-Americans who have been historically suspicious of the United State's health care system.

Where Do College Students Get Health Information? Believability and Use of Health Information Sources

2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 713-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda M. Vader ◽  
Scott T. Walters ◽  
Bahaman Roudsari ◽  
Norma Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Health Information Sources

Cancer Information Seeking among Black and White Adults: Results from the 2003 and 2005 Health Information National Trends Surveys

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 16-29
Author(s):  
Jiali Ye ◽  
Zhiheng Xu ◽  
Bamidele Adesunloye
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Black And White ◽  
National Trends ◽  
Cancer Information Seeking ◽  
White Adults

Information seeking has significant impact on improving cancer preventive activities and health decision making. This study sought to compare Black and White adults on cancer information seeking and the choice of primary information sources. Non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White adults completed Health Information National Trends Surveys (HINTS) collected in 2003 and in 2005. The results of bivariate analyses showed that Whites were more likely than Blacks to be cancer information seekers for both years (2003: 49.0% vs. 40.8%, p < .001; 2005: 54.6% vs. 46.9%, p = .008). However, after controlling for sociodemographic variables, race was not significantly associated with cancer information seeking. Both racial groups increased their likelihood of cancer information seeking from 2003 to 2005, although the increase was only statistically significant for Whites ( p < .001). Health providers and the Internet were the top two most selected primary cancer information sources for both racial groups. These findings indicate that sociodemographic factors, such as gender, education, and cancer history, may shape the racial difference in health information seeking among the general population. Among all the information sources, health care providers and the Internet play the most important role in providing cancer-related information.

scholarly journals Online Health Information Seeking Among US Adults: Measuring Progress Toward a Healthy People 2020 Objective

2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (6) ◽  
pp. 617-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lila J. Finney Rutten ◽  
Kelly D. Blake ◽  
Alexandra J. Greenberg-Worisek ◽  
Summer V. Allen ◽  
Richard P. Moser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Healthy People ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Annual Household Income ◽  
Healthy People 2020 ◽  
Race Ethnicity

Objective: During the past decade, the availability of health information online has increased dramatically. We assessed progress toward the Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) health communication and health information technology objective of increasing the proportion of health information seekers who easily access health information online. Methods: We used data from 4 administrations of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 2008-2017) (N = 18 103). We conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate trends over time in experiences with accessing health information and to examine differences by sociodemographic variables (sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, income, metropolitan status) separately for those who used the internet (vs other information sources) during their most recent search for health information. Results: Among US adults who looked for health information and used the internet for their most recent search, the percentage who reported accessing health information without frustration was stable during the study period (from 37.2% in 2008 to 38.5% in 2017). Accessing information online without frustration was significantly and independently associated with age 35-49 (vs age 18-34) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 -1.73), non-Hispanic black (vs non-Hispanic white) race/ethnicity (OR = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.55-2.97), and annual household income <$20 000 (vs >$75 000) (OR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47-0.93). The percentage of adults who used an information source other than the internet and reported accessing health information online without frustration ranged from 31.3% in 2008 to 42.7% in 2017. Survey year 2017 (vs 2008) (OR = 1.61; 95% CI, 1.09-2.35) and high school graduate education (vs college graduate) (OR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.49-0.97) were significantly and independently associated with accessing health information without frustration from sources other than the internet. Conclusions: The percentage of online health information seekers reporting easily accessing health information did not meet the HP2020 objective. Continued efforts are needed to enable easy access to online health information among diverse populations.

Adolescents' perceptions of the internet as a health information source

2002 ◽  
Vol 10 (S1) ◽  
pp. R53-R53 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. J. Gray ◽  
J. D. Klein ◽  
J. A. Cantrill ◽  
P. R. Noyce
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Source ◽  
The Internet

scholarly journals Childhood immunisation timeliness and vaccine confidence by health information source, maternal, socioeconomic, and geographic characteristics in Albania

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Mayerová ◽  
Kaja Abbas
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Working Mothers ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Childhood Immunisation ◽  
Lower Odds ◽  
Vaccine Confidence

Abstract Background Albania is facing decreasing childhood immunisation coverage and delay in timeliness of vaccination despite a growing economy and universal health insurance. Our aim is to estimate childhood immunisation timeliness and vaccine confidence associated with health information source, maternal, socioeconomic, and geographic characteristics in Albania. Methods We used the 2017–2018 Albania Demographic and Health Survey to analyse childhood immunisation timeliness and vaccine confidence among 2113 and 1795 mothers of under-5-year-old children respectively using simple and multivariable logistic regression. Results Among mothers of under-5-year-old children in Albania, 78.1% [95% CI: 74.3, 81.5] never postponed or rejected childhood vaccines. Immunisation delay was reported by 21.3% [18.0, 25.1] of mothers, but a majority (67.0%) were caused by the infant’s sickness at the time of vaccination, while a minority (6.1%) due to mothers’ concerns about vaccine safety and side effects. Vaccine confidence was high among the mothers at 92.9% [91.0, 94.4] with similar geographical patterns to immunisation timeliness. Among 1.3% of mothers who ever refused vaccination of their children, the main concerns were about vaccine safety (47.8%) and side effects (23.1%). With respect to childhood immunisation timeliness, after controlling for other background characteristics, mothers whose main health information source was the Internet/social media had 34% (adjusted odds-ratio AOR = 0.66 [0.47, 0.94], p = 0.020) lower odds in comparison to other sources, working mothers had 35% (AOR = 0.65 [0.47, 0.91], p = 0.013) lower odds in comparison to non-working mothers, mothers with no education had 86% (AOR = 0.14 [0.03, 0.67], p = 0.014) lower odds compared to those who completed higher education, and mothers living in AL02-Qender and AL03-Jug regions had 62% (AOR = 0.38 [0.23, 0.63], p < 0.0001) and 64% (AOR = 0.36 [0.24, 0.53], p < 0.0001) lower odds respectively in comparison to those residing in AL01-Veri region (p < 0.0001).   With respect to vaccine confidence, mothers whose main health information source was the Internet/social media had 56% (AOR = 0.44 [0.27, 0.73], p = 0.002) lower odds in comparison to other sources, single mothers had 92% (AOR = 0.08 [0.01, 0.65], p = 0.019) lower odds compared to those married/living with a partner, mothers of specific ethnicites (like Roma) had 61% (AOR = 0.39 [0.15, 0.97], p = 0.042) lower odds in comparison to mothers of Albanian ethnicity, and mothers living in AL03-Jug region had 67% (AOR = 0.33 [0.19, 0.59], p ≤ 0.0001) lower odds compared to mothers residing in AL01-Veri region. Conclusions Reinforcement of scientific evidence-based online communication about childhood immunisation in combination with tracking and analysis of vaccine hesitancy sentiment and anti-vaccination movements on the Internet/social media would be beneficial in improving immunisation timeliness and vaccine confidence in Albania. Since parents tend to search online for information that would confirm their original beliefs, traditional ways of promoting vaccination by healthcare professionals who enjoy confidence as trusted sources of health information should be sustained and strengthened to target the inequities in childhood immunisation timelines and vaccine confidence in Albania.

scholarly journals Web-based health Information Seeking and eHealth Literacy among College students. A Self-report study

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh KHademian ◽  
Mahsa Roozrokh Arshadi Montazer ◽  
Azam Aslani
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Self Report ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Health Information Seeking ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Ehealth Literacy ◽  
Quality Health

Objective. This study aimed to assess web-based health information seeking and eHealth literacy among Iranian college students. Methods. The study was conducted in five colleges of the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran during 2018. The data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of seven questions on a 4-point Likert-type scale, with scores ranging from 7 to 28. These questions were: ′I know how to use the Internet to answer my questions about health′, ′I think there is enough information about health-related issues on the Internet′, ′I know the vocabulary used in health issues on the Internet′, ′I can tell high-quality health resources from low-quality health resources on the Internet′, ′I know how to use the health information I find on the Internet to help me′, ′I feel confident in using information from the Internet to make health decisions′, and ′Searching for health-related information on the Internet will increase my knowledge in this field′. High eHealth literacy level is defined as above the total mean score and low eHealth literacy level is defined as lower than the total mean score. Results. In all, 386 college students participated in the study. The results showed that the mean score of eHealth literacy was 19.11 out of 28; 205 participants (54.4%) had low eHealth literacy. In addition, the students used the Internet to search for information regarding diseases symptoms (70%), physical illnesses (67.1%), existing treatments (65%), and diagnosis (63.1%). Conclusion. The results showed that participants in this study usually searched for illnesses, symptoms, and treatments after they got sick and paid little attention to other aspects related to integral health.How to cite this article: KHademian F, Roozrokh M, Aslani A. Web-based health Information Seeking and eHealth Literacy among College students. A Self-report study. Invest. Educ. Enferm. 2020. 38(1):e08.

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