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