Digital health literacy and information-seeking on the internet in relation to COVID-19 among university students in Greece
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In: Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine Update, Vol. 5, 100139, 01.01.2024.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Digital health literacy and information-seeking on the internet in relation to COVID-19 among university students in Greece
AU - Sakellari, Evanthia
AU - Okan, Orkan
AU - Dadaczynski, Kevin
AU - Koutentakis, Kostantinos
AU - Lagiou, Areti
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024
PY - 2024/1/1
Y1 - 2024/1/1
N2 - Background: COVID-19 is the first pandemic in history in which technology and social media are being used for people to be informed and be safe. Thus, digital health literacy skills affect the way people will protect and promote their health. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based study was conducted with a convenience sample among university students (N=604) from one of the Universities located in Attica (Greece) during May - June 2020. The COVID-HL university students survey questionnaire was used for collecting the data. Results: In regards to information search, 28 % of the university students indicated that they found it very difficult/difficult to find the exact information they were looking for and 20.4 % to make a choice from all the information they found. Additionally, 45.1 % of the participants found it very difficult/difficult to decide whether the information retrieved via online search is reliable or not. Conclusion: The results indicate a need for the promotion of digital health literacy among university students and therefore, health education interventions need to optimize students’ seeking skills and critical thinking. Health educators should consider the results of this study and involve the university students in any intervention they plan in order to address the students’ specific needs. It is also suggested that these health education interventions should be integrated throughout all academic activities.
AB - Background: COVID-19 is the first pandemic in history in which technology and social media are being used for people to be informed and be safe. Thus, digital health literacy skills affect the way people will protect and promote their health. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based study was conducted with a convenience sample among university students (N=604) from one of the Universities located in Attica (Greece) during May - June 2020. The COVID-HL university students survey questionnaire was used for collecting the data. Results: In regards to information search, 28 % of the university students indicated that they found it very difficult/difficult to find the exact information they were looking for and 20.4 % to make a choice from all the information they found. Additionally, 45.1 % of the participants found it very difficult/difficult to decide whether the information retrieved via online search is reliable or not. Conclusion: The results indicate a need for the promotion of digital health literacy among university students and therefore, health education interventions need to optimize students’ seeking skills and critical thinking. Health educators should consider the results of this study and involve the university students in any intervention they plan in order to address the students’ specific needs. It is also suggested that these health education interventions should be integrated throughout all academic activities.
KW - Digital health literacy
KW - Greece
KW - Online information
KW - Students
KW - University
KW - Health sciences
KW - Psychology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85184071603&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cmpbup.2024.100139
DO - 10.1016/j.cmpbup.2024.100139
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:85184071603
VL - 5
JO - Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine Update
JF - Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine Update
SN - 2666-9900
M1 - 100139
ER -