Student reception, sources, and believability of health-related information.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify the health topics students received information about, how students obtained health-related information, and perceived believability of those sources.


METHODS
Students (N = 1202) were surveyed using the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) of the American College Health Association.


RESULTS
Nearly half (46%) of the sample reported not receiving any information, whereas only 0.5% received information on all health topics. The Internet was the most common source of health-related information, but, conversely, was perceived as the least believable source. Health center medical staff and university health educators were perceived to be the most believable sources.


CONCLUSIONS
Future practice at the university setting should focus on delivering health information through believable messengers utilizing the most commonly reported sources of information. This may have implications towards how students shape their health-related social cognitions and subsequent behaviors.
Kwan
Matthew Yiu Wing
MY
Department of Exercise Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. matty.kwan@utoronto.ca
Arbour-Nicitopoulos
Kelly P
KP
Lowe
David
D
Taman
Sara
S
Faulkner
Guy E J
GE
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities