Navigating Digital Health Resources: A Qualitative Study of Non-Medical University Students' Online Information Seeking

The internet has become a primary source of health information, significantly influencing individuals' health perceptions and behaviors. University students, as digital natives, frequently turn to online platforms for health-related queries. However, research often overlooks the specific experiences of students not enrolled in healthcare disciplines, who may lack formal medical training to critically evaluate online content. This qualitative study aims to explore the experiences, perceptions, and challenges faced by non-medical university students when accessing health information online. Understanding their information-seeking behaviors, credibility assessment strategies, and the impact of online resources on their health decisions is crucial for developing effective health literacy programs and informing healthcare providers, including nurses, on how to guide this population toward reliable information sources and enhance patient-provider communication.