Teens and Technology Leverage Health Information Technology
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Mentor Information
Donna Gambino
Description
Adolescents seeking health information have multiple sources including physicians, families, schools, organized activities outside of school, “the street” and the Internet. Teens struggle to decide which sources provide them with information that is understandable, particularly related to potentially risky health behaviors. The purpose of this study was to better understand how high-school students use electronic tools. A quantitative, causal comparative approach as used to identify differences across groups. The independent variables were the student grade level. The dependent variables were the students’ response to the following questions, Students who utilized: 1) a computer at home 2) the Internet at home; 3) successfully navigate on the Internet; 4) a computer to download study aids; 5) the Internet at school and 6) students agreed their school had sufficient computers. A MANOVA was conducted to compare differences across groups. For statistically significant findings one-way ANOVA contrasts were conducted on each dependent variable. One-way ANOVA contrasts identified five statistically significant criteria: 1) Overall students (76%) reported they utilized a computer at home (p<.001); 2) A majority of students (87%) reported being comfortable navigating the Internet (p<.001); 3) Many students (63%) reported they would download study aids to assist with their learning (p<.0001); 4) The majority of students (75%) confirmed they utilize the Internet at school (p<.0001); and 5) Many students (63%) were in agreement that the number of school computers was sufficient(p<.0001). Adolescents have access to the Internet at home and at school and are comfortable using this tool to search for health information.
Teens and Technology Leverage Health Information Technology
Adolescents seeking health information have multiple sources including physicians, families, schools, organized activities outside of school, “the street” and the Internet. Teens struggle to decide which sources provide them with information that is understandable, particularly related to potentially risky health behaviors. The purpose of this study was to better understand how high-school students use electronic tools. A quantitative, causal comparative approach as used to identify differences across groups. The independent variables were the student grade level. The dependent variables were the students’ response to the following questions, Students who utilized: 1) a computer at home 2) the Internet at home; 3) successfully navigate on the Internet; 4) a computer to download study aids; 5) the Internet at school and 6) students agreed their school had sufficient computers. A MANOVA was conducted to compare differences across groups. For statistically significant findings one-way ANOVA contrasts were conducted on each dependent variable. One-way ANOVA contrasts identified five statistically significant criteria: 1) Overall students (76%) reported they utilized a computer at home (p<.001); 2) A majority of students (87%) reported being comfortable navigating the Internet (p<.001); 3) Many students (63%) reported they would download study aids to assist with their learning (p<.0001); 4) The majority of students (75%) confirmed they utilize the Internet at school (p<.0001); and 5) Many students (63%) were in agreement that the number of school computers was sufficient(p<.0001). Adolescents have access to the Internet at home and at school and are comfortable using this tool to search for health information.
