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).
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.


METHODS
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).


METHODS
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.


METHODS
Data were presented with frequency distributions and cross-tabulations and the chi2 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, chi2, 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, chi2, 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.
Castrén
Johanna
J
Medical School, Department of General Practice, 33014 University of Tampere, Finland. johanna.castren@fimnet.fi
Huttunen
Teppo
T
Kunttu
Kristina
K
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012572:School Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities