aStandard Deviation
b 276 never married, 1 widow, 2
separated/divorced
c 40 bad, 18 very bad
d 55 good, 5 very good
Table 2 provides the evaluation of the students regarding the perception
of reliable health information sources and use of health information
sources. The information source with the highest reliability perception
mean score was the doctor (7.10±2.74), whereas the one with the highest
usage was the Internet (7.98±2.77). Although the Internet was the
most-used health information source, it was only sixth (5.82±3.22) in
terms of reliability perception. The mean perception of nurses as
reliable information source (7.10±2.74) was second highest and their use
as such (6.50±3.07) was third highest. Radio was the lowest in terms of
reliability perception (3.59±2.80) and mean usage (2.27±2.70). Since the
number of participants evaluating health information sources in the
“other category” was quite low (n = 4–12 people) only
descriptive findings were given and no further analysis was performed.
As the Minister of Health ranked as the highest source of information in
terms of reliability perception (9.00±1.34) and mean usage (9.36±0.92),
the environment was ranked as worst source of information in terms of
reliability perception (3.50±4.15) and usage (4.81±4.09). The mean
reliability perception of scientists (8.25±3.50) and mean usage
(7.67±3.21) were also high.
Table 2. Distribution of
the participants’ health information sources reliability perception and
mean usage