Role of factors in eHealth literacy in period of COVID-19: a study of Turkey

PurposeThis study aims to understand the eHealth literacy skills of chronic patients and to explore the relations, patterns between eHealth literacy skills and different factors such as demographics, search strategies and health information sources and to explain their effects on eHealth literacy in Turkey in Izmir in COVID-19 outbreak.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative method was used in the study including a questionnaire. A total of 604 chronic patients responded to the questionnaire who applied the five popularly identified hospitals in Izmir in Turkey. CHAID analysis method was implemented to explore the strongest correlation between eHealth literacy and independent variables.FindingsUsing different social media types were correlated with patients’ eHealth literacy scores. Using Facebook, Twitter were the supportive predictors for the eHealth literacy scores. However, digital literacy was highly important for eHealth literacy.Originality/valueThis study shows that the social media channels which provides much more information such as Facebook and Twitter for the chronic patient. This could be beneficial for the eHealth tools and social media content developers in terms of the supply of health information. Moreover, the study gives ideas about the effect of digital literacy and the importance of health information provided.

Hubungan Pemanfaatan Sumber Informasi Dengan Sikap Wanita Usia Subur Tentang Kesehatan Reproduksi

Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being all aspects related to the reproductive system, its functions and processes. This study aims of the study to determine the relationship between the use of information sources and the attitudes of women of childbearing age about reproductive health. This study was conducted in the Working Area of the East City Health Center in 2020. This study is a quantitative analytic with a cross sectional study design. Samples was selected used purposive sampling. Sample sizes is 67 woman. Data analysis used Fisher's Exact Test. The results showed that out of 67 respondents, those who did not utilize health information sources had the highest distribution of 74.1%. Unfavorable attitudes towards reproductive health have the highest distribution of 46.3%. The results of the bivariate analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between the use of health information sources and the attitudes of women of childbearing age about reproductive health (p-Value = 0.000). Utilization of health information sources should be maximized to increase positive attitudes towards reproductive health.Kesehatan Reproduksi merupakan keadaan kesejahteraan fisik, mental, dan sosial yang utuh dalam segala aspek yang berhubungan dengan sistem reproduksi, fungsi, serta prosesnya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan pemanfaatan sumber informasi dengan sikap wanita usia subur tentang kesehatan reproduksi. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Kota Timur pada tahun 2020. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian analitik kuantitatif dengan rancangan cross sectional study. Sampel penelitian dipilih dengan menggunakan purposive sampling. Jumlah sampel sebanyak 67 orang. Analisis data menggunakan Fishert Exact Test. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dari 67 orang responden bahwa yang tidak memanfaatkan sumber informasi kesehatan memiliki distribusi tertinggi yaitu sebesar 74,1%. Sikap kurang baik terhadap kesehatan reproduksi memiliki distribusi tertinggi yaitu sebesar 46,3%. Hasil analisis bivariat menunjukkan bahwa terdapat hubungan yang signifikan anatar pemanfaatan sumber informasi kesehatan dengan sikap wanita usia subur tentang kesehatan reproduksi (p-Value = 0,000). Pemanfaatkan sumber informasi kesehatan harus dimaksimalkan untuk meningkatkan sikap positif terhadap kesehatan reproduksi.

PENGARUH PAPARAN MEDIA MASSA TERHADAP LITERASI KESEHATAN REPRODUKSI REMAJA PONDOK PESANTREN

Abstrak Latar Belakang : Kesehatan merupakan salah satu di antara tiga faktor utama yang mempengaruhi Indeks Pembangunan Manusia (IPM) selain pendidikan dan pendapatan. Media dan sumber informasi kesehatan yang semakin berkembang menjadikan masyarakat lebih melek kesehatan. Pondok Pesantren Putri Hidayatul Mubtadi-aat Lirboyo Kediri menerapkan dalam penggunaan media massa mutlak tidak diperbolehkan seperti televisi, radio atau handphone. Metode : Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian analitik observasional dengan menggunakan pendekatan cross sectional. Besar sampel sebanyak 260 santri remaja umur 10 sampai 19 tahun sesuai dengan kriteria inklusi. Pengambilan data kuantitatif dilakukan dengan metode Non-Random Sampling dengan teknik consecutive sampling. Variabel independen dalam penelitian ini adalah paparan media massa, sedangkan variabel dependennya adalah tingkat health literacy kesehatan reproduksi remaja. Untuk mengetahui tingkat signifikan, data yang terkumpul akan diuji dengan uji regresi logistik sederhana dengan menggunakan derajat kepercayaan 95%. Hasil : ada pengaruh kualitas paparan media (p=0,006), kuantitas paparan media massa (p=0,002) terhadap tingkat health literacy. Kesimpulan : diperlukan lebih banyak paparan media yang berkualitas untuk meningkatkan health literacy terkait kesehatan reproduksi pada santri Pondok Pesantren Putri Hidayatul Mubtadi-aat Lirboyo Kediri.Abstract Background: Health is one of the three main factors that influence the Human Development Index (HDI) in addition to education and income. Media and health information sources that are increasingly developing make people more health literate. Islamic Boarding School, Lirboyo Kediri, is not permitted to use the mass media as television, radio or cellphones. Method: This research was an observational analytic study using a cross sectional approach. The size of samples was 260 young students aged 10 to 19 years according to the inclusion criteria. Quantitative data were retrieved Non-Randomly using consecutive sampling technique. The independent variable in this study was mass media exposure, while the dependent variable is the level of health literacy of adolescent reproductive health. To find out the effect, a simple logistic regression was applied using 95% confidence level. Results: the quality of the media that were accessed (p=0.006), the quantity of media that were accessed (p=0.002), age (p=0.000) and the training experience (p=0.000) affected health literacy individually. Conclusion: there is needs of increasing access to quality mass media in order to improve health literacy aming students of Pondok Pesantren Putri Hidayatul Mubtadi-aat Lirboyo Kediri.

Cancer patients’ information seeking behavior related to online electronic healthcare records

Patients’ online access to their EHR together with the rapid proliferation of medical information on the Internet has changed how patients use information to learn about their health. Patients’ tendency to turn to the Internet to find information about their health and care is well-documented. However, little is known about patients’ information seeking behavior when using online EHRs. By using information horizons as an analytical tool this paper aims to investigate the information behavior of cancer patients who have chosen to view their EHRs (readers) and to those who have not made that option (non-readers). Thirty interviews were conducted with patients. Based on information horizons, it seems that non-reading is associated with living in a narrower information world in comparison to readers. The findings do not suggest that the smallness would be a result of active avoidance of information, or that it would be counterproductive for the patients. The findings suggest, however, that EHRs would benefit from comprehensive linking to authoritative health information sources to help users to understand their contents. In parallel, healthcare professionals should be more aware of their personal role as a key source of health information to those who choose not to read their EHRs.

Routine Medical Check-Up and Self-Treatment Practices among Community-Dwelling Living in a Mountainous Area of Northern Vietnam

This study was conducted to evaluate the routine medical check-up and self-treatment behaviors of people living in a remote and mountainous setting in Northern Vietnam and identify their associations. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 175 people in August 2018 in Cao Son commune, Da Bac district, Hoa Binh. Information regarding routine medical check-ups and self-treatment behaviors was collected by using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the associations. Results show that 24% of the mountainous people had routine medical check-ups in the last 12 months. The rate of self-treatment in the past three months was 33.7%. The number of chronic diseases ( OR = 1.5 , 95% CI = 1.0 ‐ 2.3 ), health information sources from radio/television ( OR = 3.3 , 95% CI = 1.2 ‐ 9.5 ), or social media ( OR = 24.8 , 95% CI = 1.2 ‐ 512.4 ) was related to routine medical check-up. People who did not have routine medical check-up were more likely to have self-treatment practice ( OR = 6.3 , 95% CI = 1.9 ‐ 21.1 ) than those who had a regular health check. Promoting health education and communication through mass media to raise people’s awareness about regular health check-ups is a promising way to improve people’s self-treatment status.

Chronic Patients’ eHealth Literacy Skills and Related Factors: The Example of Turkey (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Previous studies on the eHealth suggested that chronic patients use the internet to obtain health information and to manage their health conditions. It has been revealed, particularly during the pandemic, that the internet has a significant potential to become a crucial health information source for chronic patients. However, there are both fluctuant and constant factors that influence the various eHealth literacy skills of chronic patients. It is critical to discover the current parameters influencing eHealth literacy skills in countries such as Turkey, which is in the process of adapting technology use, while eHealth literacy is gaining attention globally. OBJECTIVE This study aims to reveal the eHealth literacy skills of chronic patients and to investigate the relations and patterns between eHealth literacy skills and various factors such as demographics, search strategies and health information sources, and to explain their effects on eHealth literacy in Turkey in Izmir. METHODS The study, based on a quantitative research, including the administration of a questionnaire. A total of 604 chronic patients who applied to the five popular identified hospitals in Izmir, Turkey, responded to the questionnaire. The questionnaire, which includes information on demographics, social media platforms, internet usage frequency, eHealth literacy scale, search strategies scale, and health information sources scale, was conducted with the participants. CHAID analysis method was implemented to analyze the results and determine the relations between dependent and independent variables. RESULTS The type of the social media platform used by participants was an influencing factor on eHealth literacy scores. Finding health information across multiple platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, was found to be a positive predictor of eHealth literacy. (25.3%, 153 patients). Additionally, a positive correlation has been found between the use of the internet as a source of health information and eHealth literacy scores while using the strategy of “following the links that appear on websites” is positively correlated with eHealth literacy scores. CONCLUSIONS The study's findings indicate that using the internet and various social media platforms to obtain health information has a positive effect on eHealth literacy skills. Patients with greater interaction with the internet and its substructures, as well as a greater interest in utilizing the technological features of digital environments, were found to be more qualified eHealth literates. However, given the pollution of health information on the Internet, the information channel through which health information is obtained is also a critical issue in terms of health literacy. Online health knowledge should be scientifically promoted by medical institutions or governmental organizations in order to be widely and effectively disseminated, particularly in countries such as Turkey.

Finnish adolescents’ selection and assessment of health information sources

Introduction. It is challenging for young people to determine who or what information sources they can trust in health issues. This study examines adolescents’ understanding of health, health information needs and credible health information sources and discusses the ways some information sources can be regarded as adolescents’ cognitive authorities in health matters. Methods. Thirty-seven Finnish secondary school students from fourteen to sixteen years were interviewed during a school health education project. Analysis. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed qualitatively through open, axial and selective coding. Findings. Two broad categories of young people’s understanding of health and well-being were identified: a narrow disease-oriented view and a wider view including aspects of mental and social well-being. These views were connected with recognised health information needs, preferred health information sources and credibility evaluation. Conclusions. The interviewed young people found family members and health professionals to be the most credible information sources in health problems. Thus, they can be regarded as adolescents’ cognitive authorities who are likely to influence their opinions. In more general health information needs and in lifestyle issues, the range of the information sources was wider and credibility assessments were dependent on the subject.