ArticleHeliyon2025
Examining internet use for health information seeking and influencing factors among undergraduate health science students in Southwest Ethiopia.
Article in Heliyon, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Generative artificial intelligence-assisted medical self-care and associated factors among undergraduate students at Arsi University, South-Eastern Ethiopia.PLOS digital health · 2026Article
- Investigating Online Discussions About Cancer Screening on Twitter (Subsequently Rebranded as X): Corpus Analysis.JMIR infodemiology · 2026Article
- Acceptability and Preliminary Evaluation of a Campus-Integrated Digital Platform (Fruto) for University Students' Mental Health Help-Seeking: Sequential Mixed Methods Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- The use of internet for health information by hospitalised patients in Switzerland and Qatar: a comparative cross-sectional study.Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice · 2025Article
- Digital access and health outcomes: The moderating role of socioeconomic status in health information seeking.Digital healthArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: The Internet has become a pivotal resource for accessing health information globally, offering unprecedented convenience and breadth of resources. This cross-sectional study examines the implications of Internet use for health information seeking and the influencing factors among undergraduate health science students in Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 10 to December 10, 2023. The study enrolled 423 students. Data were collected using a pretested and structured self-administered questionnaire. Data entry and analysis were performed using EpiData V4.6 and STATA V17, respectively. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. Statistical significance was determined using a P-value of less than 0.05. Result: A total of 423 respondents participated in this study, resulting in a 100 % response rate. Among them, 67.4 % (95 % CI: 63.0%-72.0 %) reported using the Internet for health purposes. Factors significantly associated with this usage included being a third-year student or above (AOR = 2.33, 95 % CI: 1.36-3.99), owning a smartphone (AOR = 2.41, 95 % CI: 1.14-5.10), having good awareness (AOR = 2.81, 95 % CI: 1.55-5.09), holding a favorable attitude (AOR = 9.58, 95 % CI: 5.10-18.00), and possessing adequate e-health literacy (AOR = 5.25, 95 % CI: 2.89-9.46). Conclusion: This study underscores the internet's primary role in accessing information on diseases, treatments, healthy lifestyles, and prevention. Key factors such as e-health literacy, attitude, awareness, smartphone usage, and study timing significantly influence this trend. Understanding these factors is vital for optimizing internet resources for health information dissemination.
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