A cross-section survey of health information-seeking practices among young adults on a South African university campus

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Health information-seeking is a complex and dynamic construct. This study attemptedto quantify and explain the use of interpersonal communication, media and relatedtechnologies as health information sources among first year university students on thecampus of Stellenbosch University (SU), using a cross-sectional survey design. Thequestionnaire and web-based survey intended to measure and document importantresearch constructs at a single point in time. Data from this survey provide exploratoryinformation on patterns of health information-seeking practices and preferencesencountered among the research target group. Measures of the reasons for healthinformation-seeking on specific topics; health information sources/channels andfrequency of source/channel use; information source credibility and quality as well asthe outcomes of the health information-seeking process were used as secondaryresearch aims in this study. Health communication and health management needs ofthe research population were also important research variables to establish.Results from this research indicate that the health status of the study cohort was good.The mean of the BMI kg/m² for the current study cohort lies at the higher end of theBMI kg/m² continuum for this age group, which indicates that the lifestyle of the studycohort is at risk. The use of health information sources among the research cohort wasdiverse. This research confirms that interpersonal communication is an importantinformation medium through which young adults receive health information. Theconcept of an ecological context to health communication and its effects are thereforesupported by these results. Use of media sources and related technology was commonand diverse among the study cohort, mirroring patterns of media use for other youngadult groups. Results further support the theory of effect-studies in communication (themedia), where the provision of certain types of information through the media, indicateto have an impact on people's thinking and behaviour. A behaviour change as result ofthe health information-seeking process was reported among the research cohort.Health communication literature refers to small numbers of studies conducted onhealth information-seeking among young adults (student populations). The currentresearch has attempted to add to the body of knowledge on health information-seekingand its outcomes among a student population group in a South African university setting.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University