MAKASSAR, Indonesia, February 5, 2025/EAGING/ – In today’s digital era, searching for health information is as easy as opening a smartphone. University students, who are among the most active internet users, frequently rely on online platforms to learn about healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, and medical advice. But an important question arises: do students actually have the skills to understand and use the health information they find online? This question lies at the heart of a recent international study examining the role of digital health literacy in shaping healthy behaviours among university students.
A recent international study, titled “The Impact of eHealth Literacy on Health Behaviors for Non-communicable Disease Prevention Among University Students in Japan and Indonesia” Article Published in Cureus, February 3, 2025, highlights how the ability to access, evaluate, and apply online health information—known as eHealth literacy—can influence the way young people take care of their health.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are responsible for about 71% of deaths worldwide. These conditions are often linked to lifestyle factors like poor diet, lack of physical activity, smoking, and stress. Because many of these behaviours develop during young adulthood, universities represent a critical environment for promoting healthier lifestyles.
Researchers compared university students from Japan and Indonesia, representing two different socioeconomic and cultural contexts. The findings reveal that students with higher eHealth literacy tend to adopt healthier behaviours, including better diet management, more physical activity, and stronger awareness of disease prevention. Students who are better at evaluating online health information are more likely to distinguish reliable sources from misleading ones, allowing them to make informed health decisions.
However, the study also suggests that not all students possess the same level of digital health skills. While many young people are comfortable using technology, this does not automatically mean they can critically assess health information found online. In an age where misinformation spreads quickly through social media, the ability to interpret health content accurately becomes increasingly important.
These findings strongly connect with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-Being, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages. Strengthening eHealth literacy among university students can help reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases in the long term. Educated and health-literate young adults are more likely to maintain healthy habits throughout their lives, ultimately contributing to healthier societies.
Universities, educators, and public health institutions, therefore, play an important role in improving digital health literacy. Integrating health education with digital literacy programs can help students learn how to evaluate online health information, identify credible sources, and apply evidence-based advice in their daily lives.
In the future, promoting eHealth literacy could become one of the most effective strategies for preventing lifestyle-related diseases among young people. By empowering students with the skills to navigate the digital health landscape wisely, we move one step closer to achieving SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being.
Reference
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.78450
Contact:
Andi Masyitha Irwan, S.Kep., Ns., MAN., Ph.D.
+6285342600183
citha_ners@med.unhas.ac.id
