Associations between covid-19-related digital health literacy and online information-seeking behavior among portuguese university students

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Rafaela Rosário
  • Maria R.O. Martins
  • Cláudia Augusto
  • Maria José Silva
  • Silvana Martins
  • Ana Duarte
  • Inês Fronteira
  • Neida Ramos
  • Orkan Okan
  • Kevin Dadaczynski

We aim to evaluate the associations between digital health literacy (DHL) related to COVID-19 and online information-seeking behavior among university students. Methods: A total of 3.084 students (75.7% women), with an average age of 24.2 (SD = 7.5) participated in this cross-sectional study, most of whom (36.5%) were from social sciences and pursued a bachelor’s degree (50.7%). Data on COVID-19-related DHL and online information-seeking behavior were collected using an online questionnaire. Logistic regression models were performed. Results: As the pandemic progressed, participants showed a lower chance of achieving a sufficient DHL (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.6; 0.9). Using search engines more often (e.g., Google) (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.5; 0.9), Wikipedia (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.6; 0.9) and social media (e.g., Facebook) (OR = 0.7; 95% CI = 0.6; 0.9) decreased the likelihood of achieving sufficient DHL related to COVID-19. More frequent use of websites of public bodies (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1; 2.5) increased the odds of reporting sufficient DHL. Conclusion: DHL is associated with university students’ online information-seeking behavior in the time of COVID-19. From a community and public health perspective, programs aiming at improving DHL should be highlighted.

Original languageEnglish
Article number8987
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume17
Issue number23
Pages (from-to)1-11
Number of pages11
ISSN1661-7827
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 02.12.2020

    Research areas

  • COVID-19, Digital health literacy, Information-seeking behavior, University students
  • Health sciences

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