Journal of Health & Medical Informatics

Use of Internet Health Information Resources and Information Seeking Behaviour among Undergraduate Student of University of Education, Winneba

Abstract

Michael Afari-Baidoo, Eric Ofori Gyamerah, Kwaku Opoku Yeboah, Charles Kwesi Koomson and Collins Owusu-Fordjour*

The study sought to find out the impact of the use of the internet on health-seeking behavior among undergraduate students of University of Education, Winneba. The study employed a descriptive survey design using the quantitative research approach. Samples of 515 undergraduate students were conveniently selected from the five faculties in the University of Education, Winneba. A questionnaire on the Impact of online Health Seeking Behavior among University Students was used to collect data for the study. Descriptive statistics were used to organize the data from the questionnaire into frequencies and the responses expressed in percentages. Analysis of the data proved that health information from the internet had a significant impact on the health seeking behaviour of university students. It is, therefore, recommended among other things that an exclusively medical online management information system be rolled out by doctors and nurses to guarantee accurate medical advice on health information services. This is expected to minimize the negative implications of internet health information on the health-seeking behaviour of students. It is also recommended that online websites providing health information are regulated and a disclaimer suggesting the non-conclusiveness of existing information on such sites be made available to protect the innocent unsuspecting online health seeker.