Using online health information for unknown symptoms common among young adults: a qualitative analysis of health-related web pages illustrating the need for numeracy skills, the ability to deal with uncertainty, and the risk of ruling out self-care.

ABSTRACT: Young adults experiencing unfamiliar symptoms commonly seek health information online. This study's aim was to explore how health information websites express and communicate health information about symptoms common among young adults and guide readers in regard to health, illness, and care. Symptoms commonly searched for by young adults were used as search terms. The resulting data comprised material from 24 web pages and was analyzed using content analysis. The foremost purpose of online health information is to try to narrow down the user's symptoms and then advise the user on what actions to take. This is done by first forming a foundation of knowledge through descriptions and explanations, then specifying the symptom's time, duration, and location, and finally giving advice on whether

SUBMITTER: Viktorsson L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11834765 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature