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Digital Health Literacy and Information-Seeking in the Era of COVID-19: Gender Differences Emerged from a Florentine University Experience

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  • Guglielmo Bonaccorsi

    (Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Morgagni Blvd 48, 50134 Florence, Italy
    Health Literacy Laboratory, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Morgagni Blvd 48, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Veronica Gallinoro

    (School of Specialization in Public Health, University of Florence, Morgagni Blvd 48, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Andrea Guida

    (School of Specialization in Public Health, University of Florence, Morgagni Blvd 48, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Chiara Morittu

    (School of Specialization in Public Health, University of Florence, Morgagni Blvd 48, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Valerio Ferro Allodola

    (Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Morgagni Blvd 48, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Vieri Lastrucci

    (Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Morgagni Blvd 48, 50134 Florence, Italy
    Epidemiology Unit, Meyer Children’s University Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy)

  • Patrizio Zanobini

    (Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Morgagni Blvd 48, 50134 Florence, Italy
    Health Literacy Laboratory, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Morgagni Blvd 48, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Orkan Okan

    (Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University Munich, Uptown München-Campus D, Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62, 80092 Munich, Germany)

  • Kevin Dadaczynski

    (Department of Health Sciences, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, 36037 Fulda, Germany
    Center for Applied Health Science, Leuphana University Lueneburg, 21335 Lueneburg, Germany)

  • Chiara Lorini

    (Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Morgagni Blvd 48, 50134 Florence, Italy
    Health Literacy Laboratory, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Morgagni Blvd 48, 50134 Florence, Italy)

Abstract

Gender appears to be a strong predictor of online health information-seeking behaviour (OHISB), which is related to Digital Health Literacy (DHL). Gender differences in OHISB have been studied in different countries with different results, but no studies have investigated gender-specific OHISB among University students during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to investigate any gender differences in OHISB in the period between the first and second waves of the pandemic in Italian university students. A questionnaire developed by the global COVID-HL network, including existing and adapted validated scales and self-developed scales, was administered to 2996 University students in Florence. Gender differences were tested using the χ 2 test or the Mann–Whitney U test. Male students reported a higher score in DHL than females ( p < 0.001). However, female students seek COVID-19 information more often on different sources (for themselves and other people), on various topics, consider various aspects of information quality to be “very important’’ ( p < 0.05) and are more likely to be “often dissatisfied’’ or ”partly satisfied’’ with information ( p < 0.001). Our study confirmed gender as an important dimension to explain students’ OHISB differences, which could help institutions promote gender-specific education programmes and provide gender-oriented health information.

Suggested Citation

  • Guglielmo Bonaccorsi & Veronica Gallinoro & Andrea Guida & Chiara Morittu & Valerio Ferro Allodola & Vieri Lastrucci & Patrizio Zanobini & Orkan Okan & Kevin Dadaczynski & Chiara Lorini, 2023. "Digital Health Literacy and Information-Seeking in the Era of COVID-19: Gender Differences Emerged from a Florentine University Experience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:2611-:d:1053339
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    References listed on IDEAS

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