J Korean Soc Med Inform.  2009 Mar;15(1):153-163.

Needs, Uses and Evaluation of Internet Health Information Among Students in a Provincial University

• Ahn JO
• Jang SW
• Kim KS
• Kim JA

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study aims to investigate the needs, uses and evaluation of Internet health information among students in a provincial university.
METHODS
Nine hundred and sixty one student from seven different classes of S University located in Chungnam province participated in this study from 2nd to 9th May, 2005. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data. Collected data were analyzed on SPSS 11.0.
RESULTS
58.2% of them have needed some health information before and 84.6% of them needed the health information offered by a University. 67.2% of them use the Internet more than any other resource to acquire Health Information. 90.9% of them used a search engines to get health information on the Internet. 57.6% of them have searched for Internet health information to get information about specific disease or medical problem. The most frequently searched topics were LASIK(laser in-situ Keratomileusis), diabetes, and contraception. 39.6% of them evaluated the Internet health information was reliable and 55.8% of them satisfied with the Internet health information.
CONCLUSION
Universities and their in-campus health centers are needed to offer the trustworthy Internet health informtaion on their official homepages so that the student can refer to the reliable and qualified Internet health information.

Keyword

Internet; Consumer Health Information; Student Health Services; Community Health Center

MeSH Terms

Chungcheongnam-do
Community Health Centers
Consumer Health Information
Contraception
Humans
Internet*
Search Engine
Student Health Services

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