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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    Department of Health Science, University College South Denmark, Degnevej 16, 6705 Esbjerg Ø, Denmark)

  • Kevin Dadaczynski

    (Department of Nursing and Health Science, Fulda University of Applied Science, 36037 Fulda, Germany
    Center for Applied Health Science, Leuphana University of Lueneburg, 21335 Lueneburg, 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
    Department of Clinical Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Kløvervænget 10, DK-5000 Odense C, 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
    Research Unit of Exercise Epidemiology, Institute of Biomechanics and Sports Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark)

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

Suggested Citation

  • Carsten K. Bak & Jeanne Ø. Krammer & Kevin Dadaczynski & Okan Orkan & Jesper von Seelen & Christina Prinds & Lene M. Søbjerg & Heidi Klakk, 2022. "Digital Health Literacy and Information-Seeking Behavior among University College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study from Denmark," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-14, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3676-:d:775172
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    2. Tetine Sentell & Sandra Vamos & Orkan Okan, 2020. "Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Health Literacy Research Around the World: More Important Than Ever in a Time of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-13, April.
    3. Orkan Okan & Torsten Michael Bollweg & Eva-Maria Berens & Klaus Hurrelmann & Ullrich Bauer & Doris Schaeffer, 2020. "Coronavirus-Related Health Literacy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Adults during the COVID-19 Infodemic in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Rachael H. Dodd & Kevin Dadaczynski & Orkan Okan & Kirsten J. McCaffery & Kristen Pickles, 2021. "Psychological Wellbeing and Academic Experience of University Students in Australia during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-12, January.
    5. Mitja Vrdelja & Sanja Vrbovšek & Vito Klopčič & Kevin Dadaczynski & Orkan Okan, 2021. "Facing the Growing COVID-19 Infodemic: Digital Health Literacy and Information-Seeking Behaviour of University Students in Slovenia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-16, August.
    6. Tetine Sentell & Joy Agner & Ruth Pitt & James Davis & Mary Guo & Elizabeth McFarlane, 2020. "Considering Health Literacy, Health Decision Making, and Health Communication in the Social Networks of Vulnerable New Mothers in Hawai‘i: A Pilot Feasibility Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-17, March.
    7. Uday Patil & Uliana Kostareva & Molly Hadley & Jennifer A. Manganello & Orkan Okan & Kevin Dadaczynski & Philip M. Massey & Joy Agner & Tetine Sentell, 2021. "Health Literacy, Digital Health Literacy, and COVID-19 Pandemic Attitudes and Behaviors in U.S. College Students: Implications for Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
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    Cited by:

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    2. 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 & Kevin Dada, 2022. "Infodemic Preparedness and COVID-19: Searching about Public Health and Social Measures Is Associated with Digital Health Literacy in University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-9, September.
    3. Sheng-Chih Chen & Le Duc Huy & Cheng-Yu Lin & Chih-Feng Lai & Nhi Thi Hong Nguyen & Nhi Y. Hoang & Thao T. P. Nguyen & Loan T. Dang & Nguyen L. T. Truong & Tan N. Phan & Tuyen Van Duong, 2022. "Association of Digital Health Literacy with Future Anxiety as Mediated by Information Satisfaction and Fear of COVID-19: A Pathway Analysis among Taiwanese Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, November.
    4. Sofia Almeida & Elisabete Pinto & Marta Correia & Nélio Veiga & Armando Almeida, 2024. "Evaluating E-Health Literacy, Knowledge, Attitude, and Health Online Information in Portuguese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-11, February.
    5. Al Asyary & Meita Veruswati & Rony Darmawansyah Alnur & La Ode Ahmad Saktiansyah & La Ode Hasnuddin S. Sagala & Syawal Kamiluddin Saptaputra & Eka Oktavia & Maria Holly Herawati & Ririn Arminsih Wulan, 2023. "Determinants of COVID-19 Knowledge, Perception and Attitudes in Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-11, February.

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