| Title | Users and non-users of web-based health advice service among Finnish university students - chronic conditions and self-reported health status (a cross-sectional study). | | Author(s) | Castren J, Huttunen T, Kunttu K | | Source | BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2008 Jan 31; 8(1):8. | | Abstract | ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND: The Internet is increasingly used by citizens as source of health information. Young, highly educated adults use the Internet frequently to search for health-related information. Our study explores whether reported chronic conditions or self-reported health status differed among Finnish university students using the Finnish Student Health Services web-based health advice service compared with those not using the service.
METHODS: Cross-sectional study performed by a national postal survey in 2004. Material: A random sample (n= 5 030) of a population of 101 805 undergraduate Finnish university students aged 19-35. The response rate: 63% (n=3 153).
Main outcome measures: Proportion of university students reporting use a of web-based health advice service, diagnosed chronic conditions, and self-reported health status of users and non-users of a web-based health advice service. Statistical methods: Data were presented with frequency distributions and cross-tabulations and the Khii2 test was used.
RESULTS: 12% (n=370) of Finnish undergraduate students had used the web-based health advice service and were identified as 'users'. The proportion of male students reporting allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis was greater among users than non-users (24%, n=22 vs. 15%, n=154, Khii2, P = .03). The proportion of female students reporting chronic mental health problems was greater among users than non-users (12%, n=34 vs. 8%, n=140, Khii2, P = .03). There was no statistical significance between the group differences of male or female users and non-users in self-reported health status (good or fairly good, average, rather poor or poor).
CONCLUSIONS: Among young, highly educated adults the use of a web-based health advice service is not associated with self-reported health status. However, a web-based health advice service could offer support for managing several specific chronic conditions. More research data is needed to evaluate the role of web-based health advice services that supplement traditional forms of health services. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 18237414 |
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