title: Web-based health resources at US colleges: early patterns and missed opportunities in preventive health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Web-based health resources on college websites have the potential to reach a substantial number of college students. The objective of this study was to characterize how colleges use their websites to educate about and promote health.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a cross-sectional analysis of websites from a nationally representative sample of 426 US colleges. Reviewers abstracted information about Web-based health resources from college websites, namely health information, Web links to outside health resources, and interactive Web-based health programs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly 60% of US colleges provided health resources on their websites, 49% provided health information, 48% provided links to outside resources, and 28% provided interactive Web-based health programs. The most common topics of Web-based health resources were mental health and general health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found widespread presence of Web-based health resources available from various delivery modes and covering a range of health topics. Although further research in this new modality is warranted, Web-based health resources hold promise for reaching more US college students.
authors: Department of Veterans Affairs, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA. janejuemd@gmail.com
authors: J Jane S
authors: JJ
authors: Jue
authors: Joshua P
authors: JP
authors: Metlay
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006295:Health Resources; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities