Digital Health Literacy among Healthcare Students in Da Nang, Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Faculty of Nursing, Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy, Da Nang, Vietnam

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Recently, the larger number of people use internet to seek out information and assess medical consultant online. The wide availability of internet has facilitated to approach information instead of through healthcare professionals as before. Therefore, the importance of digital health literacy has remarkably developed. The study examined digital health literacy of healthcare students and identified the influencing factors. 

Material and Methods: The cross-sectional study conducted on 1547 healthcare students of Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy, Vietnam, through online with convenient sampling. The first part of instrument was general characteristics. Web-based information seeking behaviors questionnaire was modified to be suitable to Vietnamese context. Digital Health Literacy Instrument was used to explore digital health literacy level of healthcare students. Data were analyzed using frequency, description calculations, and multiple linear regression test. 

Results: The mean of digital health literacy of healthcare students was 57.38 (SD=9.15). The skills of operation, using computer and web browsers were highest score, while web navigation and orientation skills got the lowest scores. Gender, educational program, English level, hours of using internet per day, reasons for using internet, means to log in internet, and web-based information seeking behaviors influenced digital health literacy (p<.05). 

Conclusion: The level of digital health literacy of students was medium. Improving digital health literacy for university students would enrich the ability of online information evaluation. Health information should be developed on mobile applications in order to enhance the digital health literacy among students. 

Keywords

Availability of data and materials: Data will be available upon request from the corresponding author

Conflicts of interest: None of the authors have a conflict of interest with the respect to the authorship and or publication of this article.

Ethical consideration: The study was approved by the Biomedical Ethics Council of Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy (No 646/BB-HĐĐĐ). Participants were ensured voluntarily and could withdraw from the study at any time.  All information was encrypted, and participants were anonymous. The collected information was for research purpose only and not for any other aims. All data in this study was completely accurate, truthful, and have not appeared in any previous report. 

Funding statement: The authors did not receive any financial support for the research, authorship, and publication of this article.

Authors' contributions: Hoang Thi Ngoc Sen designed the study, performed the measurements, checked the validity and reliability of the instrument, analysed, interpreted data, wrote the manuscript. Le Thi Thanh Tuyen contributed to design the study, interpreted data, checked the validity and reliability of the instrument, and worked on the manuscript. Vo Thi Ngoc Ha set up the questionnaire on Google form, collected data, and contributed to write the manuscript. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript

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