An Assessment of Students’ Sourcing of Health Information on The Internet: A Case of Daystar University Undergraduate Students
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Date
2023
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Daystar University, School of Communication
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the use of the internet as a tool for sourcing health information among Daystar University undergraduate students. The objectives of this study were three-fold; first, this research sought to establish the types of health information sought online by Daystar University students. Second, the research aimed to examine the preferred channel of online health information used by Daystar University students. Finally, the research assessed the credibility criteria used by Daystar students to verify and trust online health information. The Health Belief Model and The Technology Acceptance Model guided the study. This research utilized both descriptive and explanatory research designs. This research was carried out in the County of Machakos and the students targeted were undergraduate students on the Athi River campus. A total of 239 participants were sampled using a purposive and convenient sampling method. Questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to obtain data. Additionally, IBM-SPSS version 28.0 was used to analyze quantitative data. The results of the study showed that the majority of respondents, 21.7%, frequently sought information regarding exercise and fitness. Additionally, Google was discovered to be the most preferred channel for seeking health information by the respondents, with a frequency of 71.6%. The majority of the respondents, 33%, stated that slow/unreliable internet connection was the main challenge they faced when they sought out health information online. Finally, results from the FGD indicated that the participants stated to feel more comfortable seeking health information online than talking to healthcare providers in person. The study concluded that internet usage has become an integral part of the daily lives of Daystar University students. The study therefore recommended the need for the university to provide educational courses on how to use search engines on the internet and verify authentic websites when looking for healthcare information
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Keywords
Fun for Wellness, Health Belief Model, Internet Service Providers, International Telecommunications Union
Citation
Wafula, N. I. (2023). An Assessment of Students’ Sourcing of Health Information on The Internet: A Case of Daystar University Undergraduate Students. Daystar University, School of Communication