Abstract
OBJECTIVES:To study various types of health information seeking behavior (HISB) among college students in Oman and to study the factors affecting students’ HISB and sources of health information (HI). METHODS: Survey was conducted in six colleges in different governor-ates of Oman collected in 2014 and in 2016. English to Arabic translated questionnaires were used to collect data from undergraduate students. SPSS was used, descriptive statistics and chi-square tests at p<0.05 were done for data analysis.RESULTS: Personal sickness (89% in 2014 and 88% in 2016) and family sickness (94% in 2014 & 92% in 2016) were the common factors af-fecting/initiating HISB. Health messages in print (65% in 2014 & 2016) & electronic media (62% in 2014 & 66% in 2016) are main initiating factors for seeking HI.Internet (89%), family members (85.8% in 2014 & 88.9% in 2016), experts-non doctors (82.8% in 2014 & 81.8% in 2016) & doctors/medics (75.7% in 2014& 83.9% in 2016) were the common sources of HI. WhatsApp (51.6% in 2004 & 45.3% in 2016) and general websites (46.3% in 2014 & 48% in 2016) were the commonest media sources of HI. Gender and other demographic variable were not signifi-cantly associated (p>0.05) with HISB of students.CONCLUSION: Personal/family sickness & media were the common factors affecting/initiating HISB.Majority of student are seeking HI from internet, family members, experts-non doctors & doctors/medics. WhatsApp and internet were the commonest media sources of HI. HISB needs to be documented for theorizing messages, developing social and health initiatives.
