Infodemic Preparedness and COVID-19: Searching about Public Health and Social Measures Is Associated with Digital Health Literacy in University Students

Rafaela Rosário (), Inês Fronteira, Maria R. O. Martins, Cláudia Augusto, Maria José Silva, Melanie Messer, Silvana Martins, Ana Duarte, Neida Ramos, Katharina Rathmann, Orkan Okan and Kevin Dadaczynski
Additional contact information
Rafaela Rosário: School of Nursing, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Inês Fronteira: Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University of Lisbon, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
Maria R. O. Martins: Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University of Lisbon, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
Cláudia Augusto: School of Nursing, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Maria José Silva: School of Nursing, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Melanie Messer: Department of Nursing Science II, Faculty I, Trier University, 54296 Trier, Germany
Silvana Martins: Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), 3000-232 Coimbra, Portugal
Ana Duarte: School of Nursing, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Neida Ramos: Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University of Lisbon, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
Katharina Rathmann: Department of Health Science, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, 36037 Fulda, Germany
Orkan Okan: Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 80992 Munich, Germany
Kevin Dadaczynski: Department of Health Science, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, 36037 Fulda, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-9

Abstract: We aimed to evaluate the associations between information searching about public health and social measures (PHSM) and university students’ digital health literacy (DHL) related to the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 3,084 Portuguese university students (75.7% females), with an average age of 24.2 (SD = 7.5). Sociodemographic data, DHL questionnaire and online information concerning PHSM were gathered. Cox proportional hazards models were performed. Results: Students who searched for personal protective measures achieved in shorter time sufficient “evaluating reliability” (HR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.1; 1.7) and “determining relevance” (HR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.2; 1.8). Searching for surveillance and response measures was associated with sufficient “determining relevance” (HR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.1; 1.9). Finally, those students who searched for environmental, economic and psychosocial measures achieved in shorter time “determining relevance” (HR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.0; 1.4). Conclusions: Searching for PHSM was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of achieving sufficient DHL subscales in a shorter time. Further studies are needed, including developing strategies to increase the availability of high-quality information concerning public health and social measures and to improve (digital) health literacy.

Keywords: digital health literacy; public health and social measures; infodemic; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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