Associations between covid-19-related digital health literacy and online information-seeking behavior among portuguese university students
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In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 17, No. 23, 8987, 02.12.2020, p. 1-11.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations between covid-19-related digital health literacy and online information-seeking behavior among portuguese university students
AU - Rosário, Rafaela
AU - Martins, Maria R.O.
AU - Augusto, Cláudia
AU - Silva, Maria José
AU - Martins, Silvana
AU - Duarte, Ana
AU - Fronteira, Inês
AU - Ramos, Neida
AU - Okan, Orkan
AU - Dadaczynski, Kevin
PY - 2020/12/2
Y1 - 2020/12/2
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Digital health literacy
KW - Information-seeking behavior
KW - University students
KW - Health sciences
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097008079&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph17238987
DO - 10.3390/ijerph17238987
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 33276647
AN - SCOPUS:85097008079
VL - 17
SP - 1
EP - 11
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
SN - 1661-7827
IS - 23
M1 - 8987
ER -