An examination of the association between college students' perceptions of Internet and health educator credibility and HIV screening

Search for this publication on Google Scholar
McLaurin, T. (2015). An examination of the association between college students' perceptions of Internet and health educator credibility and HIV screening. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
Download PDF

Analytics

57 views ◎
22 downloads ⇓


Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) remain a significant worldwide public health issue, especially for young adults and college students. Epidemiological evidence among this demographic indicate high rates of risky sexual behaviors and low levels of HIV testing. The current study examined students’ perceptions of health educator and Internet credibility in relation to ever being screened for HIV. This cross-sectional study was a secondary data analysis of the Spring 2008 National College Health Assessment-I (NCHA-I). After excluding students who reported not being sexually active, were not a current undergraduate, had missing data, and students who did not know or recall being tested for HIV infection, the final analytic sample size consisted of 61,918 student participants. Logistic regression was used to model the crude association between health educator and Internet credibility in relation to ever being tested for HIV. Of the students analyzed, only 26.9% reported ever being tested for HIV infection. In the unadjusted analyses, students who perceived health educators as credible had 9% increased odds of ever being screened for HIV (OR=1.09; 95% CI: 1.03-1.16). Similarly, students who perceived the Internet as credible had 10% increased odds of ever being screened for HIV (OR=1.10; 95% CI: 1.06-1.15). After adjusting for age, gender, and sexual preference the relationship between health educator and Internet credibility and ever being tested for HIV infection persisted. Students who perceived health educators as credible had 8% increased odds of ever being screened for HIV (OR=1.08; 95% CI: 1.02-1.15). Likewise, students who perceived the Internet as a credible source had 11% increased odds of ever being screened for HIV (OR=1.11; 95% CI: 1.07-1.16). These findings are suggestive for potential programmatic considerations and future research. Future studies should examine the use and believability of health information sources by topics that are most trusted by college students. Because college students consistently find health educators to be a credible source to acquire health information, the expansion of programs delivered by health educators should be a programmatic consideration. Lastly, because health literacy is broadly defined as the ability to discern credible information sources (Zarcadoolas, Pleasant, & Greer, 2005), health literacy should be a high priority item in the college curriculum so that students are good information consumers.

Details
Author

McLaurin, Tony

Title

An examination of the association between college students' perceptions of Internet and health educator credibility and HIV screening

Physical Description

1 online resource (44 pages) : PDF

Date

2015

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) remain a significant worldwide public health issue, especially for young adults and college students. Epidemiological evidence among this demographic indicate high rates of risky sexual behaviors and low levels of HIV testing. The current study examined students’ perceptions of health educator and Internet credibility in relation to ever being screened for HIV. This cross-sectional study was a secondary data analysis of the Spring 2008 National College Health Assessment-I (NCHA-I). After excluding students who reported not being sexually active, were not a current undergraduate, had missing data, and students who did not know or recall being tested for HIV infection, the final analytic sample size consisted of 61,918 student participants. Logistic regression was used to model the crude association between health educator and Internet credibility in relation to ever being tested for HIV. Of the students analyzed, only 26.9% reported ever being tested for HIV infection. In the unadjusted analyses, students who perceived health educators as credible had 9% increased odds of ever being screened for HIV (OR=1.09; 95% CI: 1.03-1.16). Similarly, students who perceived the Internet as credible had 10% increased odds of ever being screened for HIV (OR=1.10; 95% CI: 1.06-1.15). After adjusting for age, gender, and sexual preference the relationship between health educator and Internet credibility and ever being tested for HIV infection persisted. Students who perceived health educators as credible had 8% increased odds of ever being screened for HIV (OR=1.08; 95% CI: 1.02-1.15). Likewise, students who perceived the Internet as a credible source had 11% increased odds of ever being screened for HIV (OR=1.11; 95% CI: 1.07-1.16). These findings are suggestive for potential programmatic considerations and future research. Future studies should examine the use and believability of health information sources by topics that are most trusted by college students. Because college students consistently find health educators to be a credible source to acquire health information, the expansion of programs delivered by health educators should be a programmatic consideration. Lastly, because health literacy is broadly defined as the ability to discern credible information sources (Zarcadoolas, Pleasant, & Greer, 2005), health literacy should be a high priority item in the college curriculum so that students are good information consumers.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

Public health

Degree

M.S.

Subject Area

Public Health

Advisor(s)

Warren-Findlow, Jan

Committee Members

Huber, Larissa
Zuber, Pilar

Degree Note

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2015.

Rights Statement

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For additional information, see http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/.

Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

McLaurin_uncc_0694N_10826

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:633