Health Information Seeking Among University Students Before and During the Corona Crisis—Findings From Germany

Abstract

Health information-seeking behavior is the process of gathering information about health and disease and can be influential for health-related perception and behavior. University students are an important target group for prevention and health promotion and largely belong to an age group that is considered to play a leading role in propagating the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Germany. The paper deals with students' health information-seeking behavior before and during the corona crisis, aiming to give insights into its determinants and implications. Using the example of a large German comprehensive university and based on two cross-sectional surveys in the summer of 2019 (n = 4,351) and 2020 (n = 3,066), we investigate which information channels students use for health information, how information seeking changes during the course of the pandemic, and to what extent information seeking is associated with risk perception and risk behavior. For a subsample of participants that participated in both surveys (n = 443), we also trace developments at the individual level through a longitudinal analysis. The results show that students' health information seeking takes place primarily online and changed markedly during the corona crisis. The comparatively high relevance of sources that are largely based on unchecked user-generated content raises the concern whether students' health information-seeking behavior guarantees the necessary quality and reliability of health information. Significant correlations between the intensity of corona-related information seeking, risk perception, and actual risk behavior were found.

Information behavior during the Covid-19 crisis in German-speaking countries

“…First studies have already been published regarding the situation in the German-speaking countries. Schäfer et al (2020) analyzed the health information seeking behavior of 443 German university students, based on two cross-sectional surveys in the summer of 2019 and 2020. The results show that students' health information seeking takes place primarily online and changed remarkably during the Covid-19 crisis: use of online radio almost tripled and use of online news sites and social media almost doubled compared to before the crisis, while the use of search engines, encyclopedias, health portals and similar websites with less recent information dropped.…”

Dental Students in Germany throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Psychological Assessment and Cross-Sectional Survey

“…In Germany, the current pandemic has resulted in over one million cases of COVID-19 infections, and multiple deaths. Though COVID-19-related deaths are relatively uncommon in Germany's younger age groups, they account for a significant portion of COVID-19related hospitalizations [10][11][12]. Furthermore, during the first wave of outbreaks in 2020, researchers discovered that people between 20 and 24 years of age play a key role in spreading the SARS-CoV-2 infection in Germany [13].…”

“…Furthermore, during the first wave of outbreaks in 2020, researchers discovered that people between 20 and 24 years of age play a key role in spreading the SARS-CoV-2 infection in Germany [13]. This implies that university students, the majority of whom are in this age group, may play a crucial role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission [12]. Furthermore, during the second wave of infection in the summer and autumn of 2020, individuals of the student group were found to be more prevalent among those infected, confirming the importance of observing and understanding this group and its circumstances during the pandemic [12].…”

“…This implies that university students, the majority of whom are in this age group, may play a crucial role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission [12]. Furthermore, during the second wave of infection in the summer and autumn of 2020, individuals of the student group were found to be more prevalent among those infected, confirming the importance of observing and understanding this group and its circumstances during the pandemic [12]. With about 80.5 million people, almost 70,000 dentists, and 32 dental schools, Germany, the most populous nation of the European Union, is among the largest European states in terms of the number of oral health professionals and students [14,15].…”

Challenge Accepted! a Critical Reflection on How to Perform a Health Survey Among University Students—An Example of the Healthy Campus Mainz Project

“…We also aspire longitudinal study-designs in the future. In the meantime, one publication about health information seeking behavior of university students that is based on the data collected through this described survey has already been published by Schäfer et al ( 26 ). It will be followed by several other studies with different focus areas, such as mental health ( 27 , 28 ).…”