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Assessment of digital health literacy among university students: influence of course type and online health information seeking
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Resumo(s)
Background and Objective: E-health literacy involves the ability to search for, find, estimate and evaluate information about health and/or health services. Online sources of health information are now a privileged way of accessing information, especially among students. The aim of this study was to access the level of e- health literacy in a sample of Portuguese university students; and to relate the level of e-health literacy with sociodemographic characteristics; analyze differences between health and non-health students and with the use of online health information. Material and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted on Portuguese university students. All students completed a questionnaire consisting of social-demographic characteristics, and sources of health online information used. The digital health literacy score was assessed by the eHEALS scale validated for the Portuguese population. Descriptive and inferential analysis was applied, as well as multivariate regression models. Results: In this study, 534 university students participated; the median age was 21.0. The level of e-health literacy was 28.8 (5.6). Health-sciences students had higher digital health literacy scores than students from other fields. Most students considered the internet to be useful and very useful in making health decisions. Students' use of health online information sources such as official health websites (OR= 2.6; CI 95%= 1.5;4.3) and professional health websites (OR= 2.3; CI95%= 1.4; 3.8) increased their likelihood of having a sufficient level of e-health literacy. While the use of information sources such as social networks (OR= 0.5; 95%CI: 0.3;0.9) decreases the likelihood of having a sufficient level of e-health literacy. Conclusion: Health students showed higher levels of health literacy, demonstrating the importance of including health education in the curricula of other areas. As a practical implication, there is a need to include health education, health campaigns, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles in curricula in order to increase health literacy in university.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Digital health literacy Health Literacy Students University
Contexto Educativo
Citação
Almeida, S., Pinto, E., Correia, M., & Veiga, N. et al. (in press). Assessment of digital health literacy among university students: influence of course type and online health information seeking. Journal of Health Literacy. https://doi.org/10.22038/jhl.2025.91108.1852