Year: 2020
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: While much scholarship has been done on health information-seeking habits, comparatively little has been done on these habits among young adults. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine to which media young adults turn during an urgent health crisis, which factors correspond to their choice, and if information-seeking corresponded to visiting a health professional. Method: A survey method was used, sampling students from two large universities. Results: Credibility was the most consistent factor in predicting respondent media choice for an urgent health matter. Whether respondents were socially conservative or liberal affected media choice, as did perceptions of online and traditional media credibility. Searching for health information online corresponded to more frequently visiting health professionals. Conclusion: This study supports that young adults turn to a variety of media sources, traditional and online, during health crisis and that this information-seeking does correspond to visiting health professionals after.
DOI: 10.29333/ojcmt/7853
Authors: Jason Anthony Cain, Cory Armstrong, Jue Hou
Institutions: University of Mississippi, University of Alabama
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3013548711