Digital Health Literacy and Information-Seeking Behavior among University College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study from Denmark

Carsten K. Bak, Jeanne Ø. Krammer, Kevin Dadaczynski, Okan Orkan, Jesper von Seelen, Christina Prinds, Lene M. Søbjerg and Heidi Klakk
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Carsten K. Bak: Department of Research of Applied Science, University College South Lembckesvej 7, 6100 Haderslev, Denmark
Jeanne Ø. Krammer: Department of Research of Applied Science, University College South Lembckesvej 7, 6100 Haderslev, Denmark
Kevin Dadaczynski: Department of Nursing and Health Science, Fulda University of Applied Science, 36037 Fulda, Germany
Okan Orkan: Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University Munich, D80992 Munich, Germany
Jesper von Seelen: Department of Research of Applied Science, University College South Lembckesvej 7, 6100 Haderslev, Denmark
Christina Prinds: Department of Research of Applied Science, University College South Lembckesvej 7, 6100 Haderslev, Denmark
Lene M. Søbjerg: Department of Research of Applied Science, University College South Lembckesvej 7, 6100 Haderslev, Denmark
Heidi Klakk: Department of Research of Applied Science, University College South Lembckesvej 7, 6100 Haderslev, Denmark

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic and the concomitant infodemic have emphasized the importance of digital health literacy (DHL) to global public health research and practice. The aim of this study was to examine information-seeking behavior, the ability to find, understand and deal with health information among university college students in Denmark and/in addition we wanted to examine the impact of their close social network on students’ ability to find and understand health information. This research was carried out as part of the COVID-HL university student survey by using a uniform questionnaire consisting of elaborated scales. Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey conducted at University College South during 4 weeks in April and May 2020. To capture DHL, four subscales of the DHL instrument were adapted to the pandemic context. A total of 59.9% of the students have sufficient DHL—most students find it rather easy to find information and are satisfied with the information they find on the internet. However, some (28.1%) students find it difficult to judge the quality and reliability of the information. Students with a sufficient level of DHL are more likely to seek information through search engines and websites of official institutions, while students with a limited level of DHL more often use social media for health information. Students with sufficient DHL more often share health information and less often ask for support in their network

Keywords: digital health literacy; COVID-19; Denmark; information seeking; university college students; social network (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 (5)

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