Searching for health information on the Internet by undergraduate students in Phitsanulok, Thailand.
Searching the Internet has become an important and rapidly-expanding tool for users with health concerns.


OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to describe the accessibility, searching pattern, and implication for obtained health information on the Internet of Thai undergraduate students.


METHODS
Questionnaires composed of personal data and accessibility to drug information, were provided to convenience samples of undergraduate students in Phitsanulok.


RESULTS
Four-hundred questionnaires were completed, 66% females, mean age (SD) 21.58 (2.26) years old (range 17-29). Ninety percent of respondents accessed the Internet; 75% percent had access to the Internet at school in range of 1-3 times per week and 1-3 hours per time. Half the Internet users had access to health information. The most sought health information included general health (65.7%), disease and treatment (49.5%), and nutrition (41.9%). The main reasons for searching on the Internet were easy access (38.5%) and updated information (34.6%). Seventy percent of the Internet-based information seekers used the obtained information in their daily life.


CONCLUSIONS
This study summarizes current Internet searching patterns of undergraduate students in Thailand. The results have implications for constructing realistic simulations of searching behavior and improving the value of websites on health information relevant to youth.
Kitikannakorn
Nantawarn
N
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand. nantawarnk@nu.ac.th
Sitthiworanan
Chanthonrat
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004346:Drug Information Services; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult