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COVID-19 and Health Information Seeking Behavior: Digital Health Literacy Survey amongst University Students in Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • Rubeena Zakar

    (Department of Public Health, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan)

  • Sarosh Iqbal

    (Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Zakria Zakar

    (University of Okara, Okara 56300, Pakistan)

  • Florian Fischer

    (Institute of Public Health, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
    Institute of Gerontological Health Services and Nursing Research, Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences, 88250 Weingarten, Germany)

Abstract

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, digital health literacy (DHL) has become a significant public health concern. This research aims to assess information seeking behavior, as well as the ability to find relevant information and deal with DHL among university students in Pakistan. An online-based cross-sectional survey, using a web-based interviewing technique, was conducted to collect data on DHL. Simple bivariate and multivariate linear regression was performed to assess the association of key characteristics with DHL. The results show a high DHL related to COVID-19 in 54.3% of students. Most of the Pakistani students demonstrated ~50% DHL in all dimensions, except for reliability. Multivariate findings showed that gender, sense of coherence and importance of information were found to be significantly associated with DHL. However, a negative association was observed with students′ satisfaction with information. This led to the conclusion that critical operational and navigations skills are essential to achieve COVID-19 DHL and cope with stress, particularly to promote both personal and community health. Focused interventions and strategies should be designed to enhance DHL amongst university students to combat the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Rubeena Zakar & Sarosh Iqbal & Muhammad Zakria Zakar & Florian Fischer, 2021. "COVID-19 and Health Information Seeking Behavior: Digital Health Literacy Survey amongst University Students in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4009-:d:534034
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Rafaela Rosário & Maria R. O. Martins & Cláudia Augusto & Maria José Silva & Silvana Martins & Ana Duarte & Inês Fronteira & Neida Ramos & Orkan Okan & Kevin Dadaczynski, 2020. "Associations between COVID-19-Related Digital Health Literacy and Online Information-Seeking Behavior among Portuguese University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-11, December.
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