Digital Health Literacy Predictors and COVID-19 Online Information-Seeking Behaviors Among University Students from Romania

In addition to the infectious disease, the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an infodemic that worsened the outbreak. Increased digital health literacy (DHL) skills and information-seeking behaviors are crucial for accessing, understanding, and evaluating online health information, especially during a pandemic, where misinformation imposes immediate health consequences. This study explores the predictors of DHL among Romanian students and their information-seeking behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected through a cross-sectional study design over 3 months (December 2020-February 2021) and a self-reported web-based questionnaire from 1,381 university students from Romania assessing DHL and information-seeking behaviors. We used descriptive statistics, Cronbach Alpha coefficients, and univariate and multivariate binary logistic regressions to explore DHL's predictors in the Romanian sample. Results showed that overall, the study sample had high levels of DHL. However, almost half of the respondents reported having problems assessing whether the information searched related to coronavirus is reliable or not, and 95% shared someone else's private information online. Age, subjective social status, gender, and chronic diseases were identified as predictors for DHL. Students' DHL skills need to be strengthened using tailored educational programs and interventions emphasizing the quality, accuracy, and timely provision of online information on official public health platforms. Additional actions include fostering collaborations between educational institutions and public health authorities, alongside developing smartphone applications for real-time guidance on health topics. It is of the utmost importance to address the spread of the infodemic through different strategies, to combat misinformation among university students.