Purpose This study was to evaluate the quality of online health information related to infants and preschoolers accessible through mobile applications and websites.
Methods Using combinations of the terms ‘infant’, ‘preschooler’, and ‘health’ as the main keyword or categories, the researchers searched relevant mobile applications and websites in Korean application markets and popular search engines. Twelve mobile application and 14 websites were finally selected according to our inclusion criteria and evaluated using DISCERN instrument.
Results The overall quality score of online health information available through mobile applications was 2.00 of 5 points, the reliability score was 2.15, and the quality score was 1.76. The overall quality score of online health information available through websites was 2.29, the reliability score was 2.40, and the quality score was 1.82.
Conclusion The quality of online health information related to young children was found to be low and to have potentially significant drawbacks according to DISCERN criteria. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a system to evaluate and regulate the quality of online health information. Additionally, factors that readers can use to judge the quality of health information, such as references and the benefit versus risks of the information, should be provided.
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PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify health literacy levels of elementary school students. METHODS Participants were 331 fifth and sixth graders in nine elementary schools located in Gyeongsangnam-do.
Instruments were 42 health-related words derived from fifth-grade textbook 'Health in Daily Life' for linguistic health literacy, modified Korean Health Literacy Assessment Tool (KHLAT) for numeracy section of functional health literacy, items from a snack box and newspaper article for reading comprehension section of functional health literacy.
Data were collected from July 15 to August 15, 2013. RESULTS The mean score for linguistic health literacy was 24.02+/-7.16 of 42 (57.2% were correct answers). The mean score for functional health literacy was 9.27+/-2.30 of 12 (77.3% were correct answers). There were significant differences in health literacy by grade and academic performance. CONCLUSION This study results show that both linguistic and functional health literacy among elementary school students were not high enough to use health-related information and make appropriate health-related decisions. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies aimed at increasing health literacy levels, especially focused on underperforming students. It is also necessary that studies be done on the factors affecting the health literacy of elementary-school students.
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