title: The relationships of information efficacy and media literacy skills to knowledge and self-efficacy for health-related decision making.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the extent to which information efficacy (confidence for acquiring useful information) and media literacy skills predict knowledge and self-efficacy for preventing or treating the health threat of influenza.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random-sample survey of 1,379 residential students enrolled at a northwestern public university was conducted in fall 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students accessed an Internet survey through a link provided in an e-mail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students who self-diagnosed correctly demonstrated higher levels of media literacy skills than those who self-diagnosed incorrectly. Among those who self-diagnosed incorrectly, the only predictor of knowledge was accessibility of information sources; low accessibility was associated with reduced knowledge. Information efficacy predicted self-efficacy for both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results illustrate the limitations of information efficacy in the absence of media literacy skills. To decrease health risks, college health practitioners should promote media literacy while also ensuring easy access to high-quality information.
authors.affiliation: Murrow Center for Media and Health Promotion Research, Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-2520, USA. eaustin@wsu.edu
authors.forename: Erica Weintraub
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Pinkleton
authors.forename: Bruce W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van de Vord
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003657:Decision Making; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020377:Self Efficacy; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities; D014861:Washington; D055815:Young Adult