Open AccessAdolescents' perceptions of the internet as a health information source
Author(s) -
Gray N. J.,
Klein J. D.,
Cantrill J. A.,
Noyce P. R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of pharmacy practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.42
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 2042-7174
pISSN - 0961-7671
DOI - 10.1111/j.2042-7174.2002.tb00657.x
Subject(s) - medicine , the internet , perception , health information , internet privacy , family medicine , health care , world wide web , neuroscience , computer science , biology , economics , economic growth
Focal points The internet offers young people easy and anonymous access to information about health and medicines A series of focus groups with United Kingdom school students explored their perceptions of the internet as a health information source Less than one‐third of the students had looked for health information online; those who did were as likely to look for information about a family member's illness as their own health concerns (including diet/exercise, sexual health) Most health information seekers had used a search engine for their query, and their success was determined by their skill at evaluating the search results that they received There are opportunities for educational interventions through schools and pharmacies to help young adults to optimise their use of the internet for health information