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Niroula S, Bhattarai G, Bhusal S, Pandey A, Shah S, Wagle S, Mandal P, Parajuli D, Jha A, Dhakal B, Bhandari B, Paudel K, Adhikari TB. Levels of Health Literacy and Associated Factors Among Adults in a Rural Municipality of Nepal: A Cross-sectional Study. J Community Health 2024; 49:879-886. [PMID: 39014150 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-024-01375-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Health literacy is crucial in maintaining good health and well-being, yet community-based studies on health literacy in Nepal are scarce. This study aimed to assess the level of health literacy and identify associated factors among adults in Rasuwa, Nepal. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 253 adults aged above 18 years residing in Kalika Rural Municipality, Rasuwa. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using the Psychometric Assessment of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16). Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate independent correlates of health literacy levels. The mean ± SD age of participants was 46.3 ± 16 years. Only about a quarter (23.3%) of participants had adequate health literacy. The participants aged ≤ 45 years (aOR:1.9,95% CI: 1.0-3.6), people who perceived their health status as satisfactory (aOR: 3.1,95% CI: 1.5-6.3), had satisfactory self-rated financial status (aOR: 2.9,95% CI: 1.5-5.5), had satisfactory level of self- related esteem (aOR = 2.7,95% CI: 1.2-6.2), had a stable income (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI:1.0-3.5) were more likely to demonstrate adequate health literacy level. Conversely, illiterate participants (aOR: 0.1, 95% CI: 0.04-0.4) and those engaged in agriculture (aOR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.2-0.9) had lower odds of having adequate health literacy. This study highlights inadequate health literacy status among approximately three-quarters of the participants. Factors such as age, self-rated health status, financial stability, self-esteem, and income were associated with health literacy levels. These findings underscore the importance of addressing socio-economic and individual factors in promoting health literacy initiatives, particularly targeting vulnerable populations, to improve overall health outcomes and healthcare utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandhya Niroula
- Central Department of Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Gaurab Bhattarai
- Central Department of Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Sandesh Bhusal
- Nepal Health Frontiers, Tokha-5, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Anjila Pandey
- Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Sangam Shah
- Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj, 44600, Nepal
| | - Subash Wagle
- Central Department of Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Prince Mandal
- Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj, 44600, Nepal
| | - Dikshya Parajuli
- Central Department of Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Aarya Jha
- Central Department of Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | | | - Buna Bhandari
- Central Department of Public Health, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Kiran Paudel
- Nepal Health Frontiers, Tokha-5, Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA.
| | - Tara Ballav Adhikari
- Nepal Health Frontiers, Tokha-5, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark
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Bachl M, Link E, Mangold F, Stier S. Search Engine Use for Health-Related Purposes: Behavioral Data on Online Health Information-Seeking in Germany. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 39:1651-1664. [PMID: 38326714 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2024.2309810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Internet searches for health-related purposes are common, with search engines like Google being the most popular starting point. However, results on the popularity of health information-seeking behaviors are based on self-report data, often criticized for suffering from incomplete recall, overreporting, and low reliability. Therefore, the current study builds on user-centric tracking of Internet use to reveal how individuals actually behave online. We conducted a secondary analysis of passively recorded Internet use logs to examine the prevalence of health-related search engine use, the types of health information searched for, and the sources visited after the searches. The analysis revealed two key findings. 1) We largely support earlier survey-based findings on the prevalence of online health information seeking with search engines and the relatively minor differences in information-seeking behaviors between socio-demographic groups. 2) We provide a more granular picture of the process of HISB using search engines by identifying different selection patterns depending on the scope of the searches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Bachl
- Institute for Media and Communication Studies, Department of Political and Social Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin
| | - Elena Link
- Department of Communication, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
| | - Frank Mangold
- Department Computational Social Science, GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences
| | - Sebastian Stier
- Department Computational Social Science, GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences
- School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim
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Li W, O'Hara R, Hull ML, Slater H, Sirohi D, Parker MA, Bidargaddi N. Enabling Health Information Recommendation Using Crowdsourced Refinement in Web-Based Health Information Applications: User-Centered Design Approach and EndoZone Informatics Case Study. JMIR Hum Factors 2024; 11:e52027. [PMID: 38809588 PMCID: PMC11170049 DOI: 10.2196/52027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the digital age, search engines and social media platforms are primary sources for health information, yet their commercial interests-focused algorithms often prioritize irrelevant content. Web-based health applications by reputable sources offer a solution to circumvent these biased algorithms. Despite this advantage, there remains a significant gap in research on the effective integration of content-ranking algorithms within these specialized health applications to ensure the delivery of personalized and relevant health information. OBJECTIVE This study introduces a generic methodology designed to facilitate the development and implementation of health information recommendation features within web-based health applications. METHODS We detail our proposed methodology, covering conceptual foundation and practical considerations through the stages of design, development, operation, review, and optimization in the software development life cycle. Using a case study, we demonstrate the practical application of the proposed methodology through the implementation of recommendation functionalities in the EndoZone platform, a platform dedicated to providing targeted health information on endometriosis. RESULTS Application of the proposed methodology in the EndoZone platform led to the creation of a tailored health information recommendation system known as EndoZone Informatics. Feedback from EndoZone stakeholders as well as insights from the implementation process validate the methodology's utility in enabling advanced recommendation features in health information applications. Preliminary assessments indicate that the system successfully delivers personalized content, adeptly incorporates user feedback, and exhibits considerable flexibility in adjusting its recommendation logic. While certain project-specific design flaws were not caught in the initial stages, these issues were subsequently identified and rectified in the review and optimization stages. CONCLUSIONS We propose a generic methodology to guide the design and implementation of health information recommendation functionality within web-based health information applications. By harnessing user characteristics and feedback for content ranking, this methodology enables the creation of personalized recommendations that align with individual user needs within trusted health applications. The successful application of our methodology in the development of EndoZone Informatics marks a significant progress toward personalized health information delivery at scale, tailored to the specific needs of users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Li
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Clovelly Park, Australia
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Rebecca O'Hara
- Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - M Louise Hull
- Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Helen Slater
- Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Diksha Sirohi
- Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Melissa A Parker
- Canberra Endometriosis Centre, Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, Canberra, Australia
| | - Niranjan Bidargaddi
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Clovelly Park, Australia
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Du Y, Wang X, Bu X, Hu F, Long J, Wang P. Latent Profiles of Coronavirus-Related Health Literacy in Chinese Residents and Its Related Predictors. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2024; 30:394-402. [PMID: 38603745 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore the latent profiles of coronavirus-related health literacy among Chinese residents and investigate whether some predictive factors are linked with different latent subgroups of coronavirus-related health literacy. DESIGN/SETTING This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted among Chinese residents beginning in April 2020. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1610 Chinese residents aged 15 to 69 years were involved and were asked to complete the questionnaire about coronavirus-related health literacy, demographic information, and COVID-19 pandemic-related information. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Examined the latent profiles of coronavirus-related health literacy and explored the influencing factors of different profiles of coronavirus-related health literacy. RESULTS The results showed that there were 3 latent subgroups, namely, high coronavirus-related health literacy (45.53%), medium coronavirus-related health literacy (47.76%), and low coronavirus-related health literacy (6.71%). Logistic regression analysis showed that gender, education, and the frequency of exposure to news about the pandemic could predict group membership. CONCLUSIONS Most Chinese residents have medium coronavirus-related health literacy. Education is an important factor that has a long-term stable influence on coronavirus-related health literacy, and the frequency of exposure to news about the pandemic is a factor that can improve coronavirus-related health literacy in a short time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawen Du
- Author Affiliations: Faculty of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China (Drs Du, Bu, and Wang); Faculty of Education, Ankang College, Ankang, China (Mr Wang and Dr Wang); Faculty of Teacher Education, Honghe University, Mengzi, China (Dr Hu); and School of Politics and Public Administration, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China (Dr Long)
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Ning L, Zheng Z, Liu M, Gao S, Yang X, Bi J, Yu X, Yi D. Profiles of digital health literacy among university students and its association with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A latent profile analysis. Digit Health 2024; 10:20552076231224596. [PMID: 38205038 PMCID: PMC10777787 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231224596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Investigating the digital health literacy of university students can facilitate their effective acquisition of health information and adoption of appropriate protective behaviors. This study aims to explore the subtypes of digital health literacy among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic and their association with mental health outcomes. Methods From 17 November to 14 December 2022, a stratified random sampling approach was used to conduct an online questionnaire survey on digital health literacy, fear of COVID-19, and depression status among students at Jilin University, China. A total of 1060 valid responses were obtained in the survey. Latent profile analysis identified subtypes of digital health literacy and linear regression analyses were used to examine the association of digital health literacy to the mental health outcome. Results Three latent profiles were identified: Profile 1-low digital health literacy (n = 66, 6.23%), Profile 2-moderate digital health literacy (n = 706, 66.60%), and Profile 3-high digital health literacy (n = 288, 27.17%). Results from linear regression demonstrated a negative correlation between digital health literacy and fear of COVID-19 (B = -2.954, P < 0.001) as well as depression (B = -2.619, P < 0.001) among university students. Conclusions This study indicated that the majority of university students exhibit a moderate level of digital health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the study validates a negative correlation between digital health literacy and mental health among university students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangwen Ning
- School of Public Administration, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Zhou Zheng
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Minghui Liu
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Shang Gao
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xin Yang
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jiasi Bi
- Norman Bethune Health Science Center, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xihe Yu
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Dahai Yi
- Norman Bethune Health Science Center, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Rouvinen H, Turunen H, Lindfors P, Kinnunen JM, Rimpelä A, Koivusilta L, Kulmala M, Dadaczynski K, Okan O, Sormunen M. Online health information-seeking behaviour and mental well-being among Finnish higher education students during COVID-19. Health Promot Int 2023; 38:daad143. [PMID: 37935171 PMCID: PMC10635413 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daad143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Online health information-seeking behaviour has increased since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in March 2020. This study examined whether health-related information on COVID-19 searched on the internet was associated with mental well-being among higher education students. A cross-sectional internet survey was conducted among 18- to 34-year-old students in Finland (N = 2976; mean age 24.61 years and median 24) in the spring of 2020. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square tests, Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric H tests, and a two-way ANOVA. The results indicated that most students (86% of females, 82% of males) used the internet to search for information on COVID-19. Students' self-perceived abilities to determine the relevance of online information on COVID-19 were associated with mental well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Rouvinen
- Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonrinne 3, Canthia Building, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hannele Turunen
- Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonrinne 3, Canthia Building, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Wellbeing Services County of North Savo, PO Box 1711, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pirjo Lindfors
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Jaana M Kinnunen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
| | - Arja Rimpelä
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, FI-33014 Tampere, Finland
- Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Tampere University Hospital, Elämänaukio 2, FI-33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Leena Koivusilta
- Department of Social Research, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Markus Kulmala
- Research Centre for Health Promotion, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Keskussairaalankatu 4, Building Liikunta (L), PO Box 35, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Kevin Dadaczynski
- Department of Health Science, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany
- Centre for Applied Health Science, Leuphana University, Lueneburg, Germany
| | - Orkan Okan
- Center for Health and Medicine in Society and Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Childhood and Adolescence, Department of Health and Sport Sciences, TUM School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marjorita Sormunen
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonrinne 3, Canthia building, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
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Sabetghadam S, Keramat A, Goli S, Malary M, Rezaie Chamani S. Maternal Health Literacy, Health information-seeking Behavior and Pregnancy Outcomes Among Iranian Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study. COMMUNITY HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH & POLICY 2023; 44:77-87. [PMID: 37724029 DOI: 10.1177/0272684x221095659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Background: Maternal health literacy (MHL) and health information-seeking behavior (HISB) could impact maternal health and pregnancy outcomes.Purpose and Research Design: This cross-sectional study investigated MHL, HISBs, and pregnancy outcomes in Iranian pregnant women. This study was also aimed to determine the predictors of MHL and pregnancy outcomes.Study smple and Data Collection: In this study, 337 randomly selected postpartum women completed three questionnaires, including a demographics form, an obstetrics history checklist, and the Maternal Health Literacy and Pregnancy Outcome Questionnaire (MHLAPQ).Results: The mean MHL and pregnancy outcome scores were 60.80 ± 9.91 and 49.88 ± 5.69, respectively. Of the participants, 56% adopted both formal and informal HISB. Education and internet HISB was associated with the odds of being in the group with higher MHL. Participants with high MHL had more than twice higher odds for better pregnancy outcomes (OR = 2.25, p < 0.004).Conclusions: Continued efforts are required to make health information sources more accessible to pregnant women to improve their health literacy and pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shadi Sabetghadam
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Keramat
- Department of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Shahrbanoo Goli
- School of Public Health, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Mina Malary
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
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Hu M, Sheng F. Blockchain-enabled cross-chain collaboration model for elderly health information from a whole process perspective. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1081539. [PMID: 36969615 PMCID: PMC10036790 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1081539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to people having less children and the aging population, the demand for elderly health services is increasing, which leads to an increase in demand for elderly health information. However, there is a gap between elderly medical health information and elderly care information due to different storage institutions and storage methods, which makes it difficult for the medical service industry and the elderly service industry to fully grasp and utilize the health information of the elderly. Therefore, it is difficult to provide whole process services that combine elderly medical health and elderly care. To solve the problem of the poor collaborative utilization of elderly healthcare information, this paper, based on blockchain cross-chain technology and the literature and field research, studies the specific contexts that are needed to realize elderly health information collaboration. Based on the system theory viewpoint, the component-based modular design concept is used to identify the attributes and types of current health information of the elderly from health information related to the five modules of prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation in the process of elderly healthcare. This paper explores the structure, elements, and interactions between the medical health information chains and the elderly care information chains. We build a blockchain-enabled cross-chain collaboration model of elderly health information from the perspective of the whole process with the help of the underlying logic of virtual chain, and to realize the applicability and flexibility of cross-chain collaboration for health information for the elderly in the whole process. The research results show that the proposed cross-chain collaboration model can realize the cross-chain collaboration of health information for the elderly with easy implementation, high throughput, and strong privacy protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Hu
- School of Journalism and Communication, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fan Sheng
- School of Economics and Management, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Fan Sheng
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Adegbilero-Iwari OE, Oluwadare T, Adegbilero-Iwari I. Predictors of online health information seeking behaviour of non-medical undergraduate students might vary. Health Info Libr J 2023. [PMID: 36850049 DOI: 10.1111/hir.12479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As more people across Generations X, Y, and Z continue to use the Internet meet their information needs, this study assesses the characteristics influencing the online health information seeking behaviour (OHISB) of non-medical university students. Previous studies on the subject in Nigeria have largely assessed the concept of OHISB among university students without examining the determinants of such behaviour. OBJECTIVE To determine the predictors of OHISB among non-medical undergraduate students of a Nigerian private university. METHODS Adopting a cross-sectional research design, the study utilized a semi-structured questionnaire administered via Google forms. Some 361 non-medical undergraduate students were recruited purposively with a response rate of 84.2%. The questionnaire obtained data on students' socio-demographics, Internet usage, and OHISB. RESULTS Presence of a chronic condition, gender, and college showed significant associations with students' OHISB. 'Mothers' occupation' and 'prior experience' became significant predictors of students' OHISB. DISCUSSION The results align with studies that stressed that chronically ill persons would search for health information on the internet and that presence of chronic illness is among the predictors of OHISB. CONCLUSION These findings add to evidence from other countries that had identified health literacy and presence of chronic illness as significant predictors of OHISB among students.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tunrayo Oluwadare
- Department of Community Medicine, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Idowu Adegbilero-Iwari
- Sciences Library, Scholarly Communications Unit, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
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Chen SC, Hong Nguyen NT, Lin CY, Huy LD, Lai CF, Dang LT, Truong NLT, Hoang NY, Nguyen TTP, Phaṇ TN, Dadaczynski K, Okan O, Duong TV. Digital health literacy and well-being among university students: Mediating roles of fear of COVID-19, information satisfaction, and internet information search. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231165970. [PMID: 37009305 PMCID: PMC10052480 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231165970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Digital health literacy (DHL) enables healthy decisions, improves protective behaviors and adherence to COVID-19 measures, especially during the era of the “infodemic”, and enhances psychological well-being. Objective We aimed to explore the mediating roles of fear of COVID-19, information satisfaction, and the importance of online information searching on the association between DHL and well-being. Methods A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted among 1631 Taiwanese university students, aged 18 years and above, from June 2021 to March 2022. The collected data include sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age, social status, and financial satisfaction), the importance of online information searching, information satisfaction, fear of COVID-19, DHL, and well-being. A linear regression model was utilized to investigate factors associated with well-being, followed by a pathway analysis to assess the direct and indirect relationship between DHL and well-being. Results The scores of DHL and overall well-being were 3.1 ± 0.4 and 74.4 ± 19.7, respectively. Social status (B = 2.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.73–3.07, p < 0.001), DHL (B 0.29, 95% CI 0.10–0.49, p < 0.001), importance of online information searching (B = 0.78, 95% CI 0.38–1.17, p < 0.001), and information satisfaction (B = 3.59, 95% CI 2.22–4.94, p < 0.001) were positively associated with well-being, whereas higher fear of COVID-19 scores (B = −0.38, 95% CI −0.55-(−0.21), p < 0.001) and female (B = −2.99, 95% CI −5.02–0.6, p = 0.004) were associated with lower well-being, when compared with lower fear scores and male, respectively. Fear of COVID-19 (B = 0.03, 95% CI 0.016–0.04, p < 0.001), importance of online information searching (B = 0.03, 95% CI 0.01–0.05, p = 0.005), and information satisfaction (B = 0.05, 95% CI 0.023–0.067, p < 0.001) were significantly mediated the relationship between DHL and well-being. Conclusion Higher DHL scores show direct and indirect associations with higher well-being scores. Fear, importance of online information searching, and information satisfaction significantly contributed to the association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Chih Chen
- Graduate Program in Digital Content and Technologies, College of Communication, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nhi Thi Hong Nguyen
- School of Health Care Administration, College of Management, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Health Personnel Training Institute, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
| | - Cheng-Yu Lin
- Department of Radio, Television & Film, Shih Hsin University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Le Duc Huy
- Health Personnel Training Institute, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
| | - Chih-Feng Lai
- Department of Education, National Taichung University of Education, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Loan T. Dang
- Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
- School of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nguyen L. T. Truong
- Pharmacy Department, School of Medicine, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Vietnam
- Pharmacy Department, Thong Nhat Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nhi Y. Hoang
- School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Thao T. P. Nguyen
- Institute for Community Health Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
| | - Tan N. Phaṇ
- Department of Tropical Diseases, Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- International Health Program, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kevin Dadaczynski
- Public Health Centre Fulda, Fulda University of Applied Sciences Fulda, Germany
- Center for Applied Health Science, Leuphana University of Lueneburg, Lueneburg, Germany
| | - Orkan Okan
- Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tuyen Van Duong
- School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Tuyen Van Duong, School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110-31, Taiwan.
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Qi M, Sun Q, Zhao X, Gao Y, Zhao D, Shen S, Zayidan P, Xiu Z, Li P. A Latent Profile Analysis of PERMA: Associations with Physical Activity and Psychological Distress among Chinese Nursing College Students. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16098. [PMID: 36498172 PMCID: PMC9735477 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Background: The wellbeing of college students is an important concern for public health, and may have associations with insufficient physical activity and psychological distress. This study aimed to identify the latent classes of wellbeing based on the PERMA (i.e., positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishments) wellbeing framework, and to explore their associations with levels of physical activity and psychological distress. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted. A latent profile analysis was performed to characterize the different classes of wellbeing of nursing college students. Results: A group of 1741 nursing college students in China completed the study. Three wellbeing classes were identified in the final model (i.e., low-level wellbeing, moderate-level wellbeing, and high-level wellbeing). Significant differences were found between the three classes in terms of gender (p = 0.002) and year of study (p = 0.038). Low levels of physical activity participation were significantly associated with lower odds of being in the high-level wellbeing class compared with the moderate-level wellbeing class (OR = 1.398, 95%CI [1.023, 1.910], p = 0.035). Lower levels of psychological distress were also associated with greater wellbeing among the three wellbeing classes (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Effective strategies are needed to increase college students’ physical activity participation and decrease the severity of psychological distress to improve their health and wellbeing in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiling Qi
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
- School of Nursing, College of Xinjiang Uyghur Medicine, Hetian 848099, China
| | - Qian Sun
- School of Physical Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhao
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yiming Gao
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Di Zhao
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Shiyu Shen
- Jinan Vocational College of Nursing, Jinan 250102, China
| | - Polat Zayidan
- School of Nursing, College of Xinjiang Uyghur Medicine, Hetian 848099, China
| | - Ziyang Xiu
- School of Nursing, College of Xinjiang Uyghur Medicine, Hetian 848099, China
| | - Ping Li
- School of Nursing and Rehabilitation, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
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12
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Kesic MG, Peric M, Gilic B, Manojlovic M, Drid P, Modric T, Znidaric Z, Zenic N, Pajtler A. Are Health Literacy and Physical Literacy Independent Concepts? A Gender-Stratified Analysis in Medical School Students from Croatia. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9081231. [PMID: 36010123 PMCID: PMC9406589 DOI: 10.3390/children9081231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Health literacy (HL) and physical literacy (PL) are concepts responsible for achieving and maintaining positive health behaviors. This study aimed to investigate gender-specific associations: (i) between PL and HL; and (ii) among HL, PL, and body composition. We observed 253 students attending health-area high schools from southern Croatia (181 girls; 16.9 ± 1.4 years). HL was assessed by the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire, PL by the PLAYself questionnaire, and body composition by bioimpedance analysis. The t-test was used to assess the differences between genders, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated to establish the associations between variables. The results showed a similar level of HL (t-test = 0.2; p = 0.83) and PL (t-test = 0.01; p = 0.99) in boys and girls. Significant but small correlations were identified between HL and PL only in the girls (<10% of common variance). The body composition indices were significantly correlated with PL only in the boys (15−20% of common variance). Our research highlights the necessity of the independent evaluation of HL and PL in adolescence. Further studies evaluating other indices of health status in relation to PL and HL are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mia Peric
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Barbara Gilic
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Marko Manojlovic
- Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Patrik Drid
- Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Toni Modric
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Zeljka Znidaric
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Natasa Zenic
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
- Correspondence:
| | - Aleksander Pajtler
- Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Architecture, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
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13
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Wang Z, Xiao H, Lin L, Tang K, Unger JM. Geographic social inequalities in information-seeking response to the COVID-19 pandemic in China: longitudinal analysis of Baidu Index. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12243. [PMID: 35851060 PMCID: PMC9293890 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16133-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic alarmed the public and initiated the uptake of preventive measures. However, the manner in which the public responded to these announcements, and whether individuals from different provinces responded similarly during the COVID-19 pandemic in China, remains largely unknown. We used an interrupted time-series analysis to examine the change in Baidu Search Index of selected COVID-19 related terms associated with the COVID-19 derived exposure variables. We analyzed the daily search index in Mainland China using segmented log-normal regressions with data from Jan 2017 to Mar 2021. In this longitudinal study of nearly one billion internet users, we found synchronous increases in COVID-19 related searches during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent local outbreaks, irrespective of the location and severity of each outbreak. The most precipitous increase occurred in the week when most provinces activated their highest level of response to public health emergencies. Search interests increased more as Human Development Index (HDI) -an area level measure of socioeconomic status—increased. Searches on the index began to decline nationwide after the initiation of mass-scale lockdowns, but statistically significant increases continued to occur in conjunction with the report of major sporadic local outbreaks. The intense interest in COVID-19 related information at virtually the same time across different provinces indicates that the Chinese government utilizes multiple channels to keep the public informed of the pandemic. Regional socioeconomic status influenced search patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Wang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, No 30 Shuangqing Road, Beijing, 100084, China.,School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.,China Development Research Foundation, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Xiao
- Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA. .,, Seattle, USA.
| | - Leesa Lin
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong Science Park, Sha Tin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Kun Tang
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, No 30 Shuangqing Road, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Joseph M Unger
- Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
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14
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Keane T, Linden T, Hernandez-Martinez P, Molnar A, Blicblau A. Digital technologies: students' expectations and experiences during their transition from high school to university. EDUCATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES 2022; 28:857-877. [PMID: 35818631 PMCID: PMC9261211 DOI: 10.1007/s10639-022-11184-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
University students' expectations of digital technologies in their studies are greatly influenced by their previous exposure both within the secondary school classroom and in their private lives. These expectations often play a powerful role in their approaches and learning strategies in their first-year university classes. In this work, we investigated students' expectations and utilisation of digital technologies in their transition from high school to tertiary studies. A survey encompassing the Expectancy-Disconfirmation Paradigm was conducted amongst second year students across the university. The results showed students expected to use advanced IT technologies and equipment at university. The high expectations were similar regardless of demographic parameters, such as gender, school type or field of studies. The findings also indicated that most students perceived little disconnection between the technology they used in high school and that of university. The majority of students seemed satisfied and even positively surprised by the use of technology in their university courses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Therese Keane
- Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC Australia
| | - Tanya Linden
- Faculty of Engineering and IT, The University of Melbourne, 3010 Parkville, VIC Australia
| | | | - Andreea Molnar
- Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC Australia
| | - Aaron Blicblau
- Swinburne University of Technology, PO Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC Australia
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15
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Ghweeba M, Lindenmeyer A, Shishi S, Waheed A, Kofi M, Amer S. The Attitudes of Egyptian Web-Based Health Information Seekers Toward Health Information Provided Through the Internet: Qualitative Study. JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e30108. [PMID: 35179505 PMCID: PMC8900895 DOI: 10.2196/30108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The internet has become an established source of health information for many Egyptian internet users. Understanding users’ attitudes toward the benefits and limitations of web-based health information will explain the influence of this information on users’ health-related behavior and decisions. Objective This qualitative study aims to understand the attitude of Egyptian internet users toward internet health information and to explore the impact of obtained health information on users’ behavior and on their physician-patient relationship. Methods For this qualitative study, semistructured interviews were conducted with a total of 49 participants (41/49, 84% Egyptian internet users and 8/49, 16% physicians) who participated in focus groups or individual interviews. We used a thematic analysis approach to explain and demonstrate participants’ views, thoughts, and experiences in using web-based health information. Results The internet has become an important source of health information in comparison with other health information sources and is the central theme that has emerged across the thematic analysis. The attitude toward the use of internet health was classified into three main themes: feeling toward web-based health information (with subthemes: favoring, disliking, neutral, or having ambivalence feelings), motivators to seek internet health information, and behavioral changes using internet health information (subthemes: confidence, satisfaction, and improved knowledge). Themes that emerged from physicians’ interviews included the accessibility of the internet health information, good communication, and coordination of care between patients and their physicians, and the active engagement of patients with their management plan. Conclusions The internet has become an essential source of health information for Egyptian adults. Internet health information can improve the patient-physician relationship, especially when users discuss the obtained health information with their physician. Internet health information provided seekers with social support and self-confidence when making health decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayada Ghweeba
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | | | - Sobhi Shishi
- Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Amani Waheed
- Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Mostafa Kofi
- Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Shaymaa Amer
- Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
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16
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Wang J, Wang X, Wang L, Peng Y. Health Information Needs of Young Chinese People Based on an Online Health Community: Topic and Statistical Analysis. JMIR Med Inform 2021; 9:e30356. [PMID: 34747707 PMCID: PMC8663605 DOI: 10.2196/30356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The internet has been widely accessible and well accepted by young people; however, there is a limited understanding of the internet usage patterns and characteristics on issues related to health problems. The contents posted on online health communities (OHCs) are valuable resources to learn about youth's health information needs. OBJECTIVE In this study, we concurrently exploited statistical analysis and topic analysis of online health information needs to explore the distribution, impact factors, and topics of interest relevant to Chinese young people. METHODS We collected 60,478 health-related data sets posted by young people from a well-known Chinese OHC named xywy.com. Descriptive statistical analysis and correlation analysis were applied to find the distribution and influence factors of the information needs of Chinese young people. Furthermore, a general 4-step topic mining strategy was presented for sparse short texts, which included sentence vectorization, dimension reduction, clustering, and keyword generation. RESULTS In the Chinese OHC, Chinese young people had a high demand for information in the areas of gynecology and obstetrics, internal medicine, dermatology, plastic surgery, and surgery, and they focused on topics such as treatment, symptoms, causes, pathology, and diet. Females accounted for 69.67% (42,136/60,478) and young adults accounted for 87.44% (52,882/60,478) of all data. Gender, age, and disease type all had a significant effect on young people's information needs and topic preferences (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS We conducted comprehensive analyses to discover the online health information needs of Chinese young people. The research findings are of great practical value to carry out health education and health knowledge dissemination inside and outside of schools according to the interests of youth, enable the innovation of information services in OHCs, and improve the health literacy of young people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- School of Management, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.,State key Laboratory of Networking and Switching Technology, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Management, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Peng
- School of Management, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
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17
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Nguyen LHT, Vo MTH, Tran LTM, Dadaczynski K, Okan O, Murray L, Van Vo T. Digital Health Literacy About COVID-19 as a Factor Mediating the Association Between the Importance of Online Information Search and Subjective Well-Being Among University Students in Vietnam. Front Digit Health 2021; 3:739476. [PMID: 34713205 PMCID: PMC8522001 DOI: 10.3389/fdgth.2021.739476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Digital health literacy (DHL) has recently been proposed as a means of enabling healthy decisions for protective behavior, preventive measures, and adherence with COVID-19 policies and recommendations especially in the era of the “infodemic”. This study aimed to (1) identify COVID-19 related DHL and its association with online information seeking; (2) to elucidate COVID-19 related DHL as a mediator predictor between the importance of online information search and its association with subjective well-being among Vietnamese university students. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was used to elicit the responses of Vietnamese students over 2 consecutive weeks (from April 25 to May 9, 2020, n = 1,003, 70.1% female students, mean age 21.4 ± 3.1). The online survey questionnaire collected data on the sociodemographic characteristics of participants, DHL about COVID-19, information seeking behavior, and subjective well-being. Mediation analysis was conducted using the importance of searching COVID-19 related information as independent variables, subjective well-being as a dependent variable, and DHL as a mediator variable. Results: Among 1,003 students, the mean (SD) of DHL related to COVID-19 was 2.87 ± 0.32. In the survey, 87.2% of the students reported sufficient well-being, while almost 13% reported low or very low well-being. The findings also indicated that search engines were the most popular platform for information seeking by Vietnamese students (95.3%) and 92.8% of participants had searched for information related to the current spread of COVID-19. Not searching for hygiene regulation as part of infection control and an average level of information satisfaction were associated with limited DHL (p < 0.05). The importance of online information searching related to COVID-19 increased the subjective well-being of students significantly and limited DHL (p < 0.05). DHL was found to mediate the relationship between the importance of online information searching and the subjective well-being of students. Conclusion: The finding provides insight into DHL about COVID-19 among university students, and their ability to find, understand, appraise, and use online health related information during lockdown throughout the first COVID-19 pandemic wave. DHL should be highlighted as a mediating factor that enhances the positive effect of the importance of information seeking on psychological well-being. However, further studies are needed to better define the mediating role of DHL across other factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linh Hoang Thuy Nguyen
- Institute for Community Health Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam.,Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
| | - Man Thi Hue Vo
- Division of Public Health, Global Health Entrepreneuship Department, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Lien Thi Mai Tran
- Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
| | - Kevin Dadaczynski
- Public Health Centre, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany.,Centre for Applied Health Science, Leuphana University Lueneburg, Lueneburg, Germany
| | - Orkan Okan
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Health Literacy Research, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Linda Murray
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Thang Van Vo
- Institute for Community Health Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam.,Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue, Vietnam
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18
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Usage of eHealth/mHealth Services among Young Czech Adults and the Impact of COVID-19: An Explorative Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18137147. [PMID: 34281084 PMCID: PMC8297197 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18137147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Various mHealth/eHealth services play an increasingly important role in healthcare systems and personal lifestyle management. Yet, the relative popularity of these services among the young population of the Czech Republic was not known. Therefore, we carried out an on-line survey with a convenience sample (n = 299) of young adults aged 18–29 and living in the Czech Republic. To this end, we adapted the survey instrument which was previously used in a similar study conducted in a different cultural context (Hong Kong). In our study, we found out that health tutorial activities (i.e., acquiring information on diet, exercise, fitness) were the most common among our respondents (M = 2.81, SD = 1.14). These were followed by health information seeking activities (i.e., acquiring information on medical problems) (M = 2.63, SD = 0.89) and medical services (i.e., the eHealth/mHealth services that provide infrastructural support, such as ePrescription and doctor appointment organizers) (M = 2.18, SD = 0.97). Based on the grouping according to gender and existing health condition, pairwise comparisons showed statistically significant differences. We also briefly analyzed the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the examined activities. Based on their relative popularity, we suggest leveraging the potential of health tutorial activities to improve public health.
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19
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Hunsaker A, Hargittai E, Micheli M. Relationship Between Internet Use and Change in Health Status: Panel Study of Young Adults. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e22051. [PMID: 33439134 PMCID: PMC7840280 DOI: 10.2196/22051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Using the internet for health information is a widespread phenomenon documented in considerable scholarship. Less common, however, is the analysis of panel data to examine how internet use may relate to change in health status over time. Objective This study examines whether internet use and internet use related to health are associated with a change in health status among young adults. Methods We used a unique panel survey data set collected about young adults’ internet use in 2012 and 2016 (n=384). We applied logistic regression to examine the relationships between sociodemographics, internet experiences, frequency of health-related internet use, and sharing health content online with change in health status over time. We additionally examined the variables characterizing sharing health content online (via Facebook, Twitter, and email) in separate models. Results In the second wave, over half (236/384, 61.5%) of the sample used the internet for health at least weekly. Approximately one-third (141/384, 36.7%) used Facebook for health-content sharing, while using Twitter and email for sharing health content were far less frequent (14/384, 3.6%, and 55/384, 14.3%, respectively). A change in health status occurred for 43.0% (165/384) of the sample; 18.5% (71/384) reported an improvement while 24.5% (94/384) reported a decline. Greater frequency of internet use was associated with health decline over time (B=–0.58, P=.02). We also found that frequent health-related internet use was related to enhanced health or maintained health (B=0.58, P=.03). Sharing health content on social media or email, however, was not related to young adults’ health changes. Conclusions Young adults exhibit a pattern of using the internet for health that influences their health status. Our finding that frequent health-related internet use may promote improved or maintained health suggests that this type of online activity might also support healthy living.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Hunsaker
- Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eszter Hargittai
- Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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