Understanding the preference of online health information seeking among college students using the best-worst scaling method.

ABSTRACT:

Background

With the overwhelming availability of online health information and high prevalence of health misinformation, it is vital to understand the status and key influencing factors of its use among individuals. This study aims to explore the online health information-seeking behavior and preference of the influencing factors among college students.

Methods

We used the best-worst scaling approach to determine college students' preferences for factors influencing online health information-seeking behavior. A total of 11 attributes of online health information seeking were confirmed by literature review and focus group, and a balanced incomplete block design was used to create 11 tasks for the BWS survey. An online survey was conducted from March 2023 to May 2023 using the

SUBMITTER: Wang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12626865 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature