Dataset Information

College Health Surveillance Network: Epidemiology and Health Care Utilization of College Students at US 4-Year Universities.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This description of the College Health Surveillance Network (CHSN) includes methodology, demography, epidemiology, and health care utilization.

Participants

Twenty-three universities representing approximately 730,000 enrolled students contributed data from January 1, 2011, through May 31, 2014.

Methods

Participating schools uploaded de-identified electronic health records from student health services monthly.

Results

During this study, just over 800,000 individuals used the health centers, comprising 4.17 million patient encounters. Sixty percent of visits included primary care, 13% mental health, 9% vaccination, and 31% other miscellaneous services. The 5 most common specific diagnostic categories (with annual rates per 100 enrolled students) were preventive (16); respiratory (12); skin, hair, and nails; infectious non-sexually transmitted infection (5 each); and mental health (4). Utilization and epidemiologic trends are identified among subpopulations of students.

Conclusions

CHSN data establish trends in utilization and epidemiologic patterns by college students and the importance of primary and behavioral health care services on campuses.

SUBMITTER: Turner JC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4673518 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

College Health Surveillance Network: Epidemiology and Health Care Utilization of College Students at US 4-Year Universities.

Turner James C JC Keller Adrienne A

Journal of American college health : J of ACH 20151101 8

<h4>Objective</h4>This description of the College Health Surveillance Network (CHSN) includes methodology, demography, epidemiology, and health care utilization.<h4>Participants</h4>Twenty-three universities representing approximately 730,000 enrolled students contributed data from January 1, 2011, through May 31, 2014.<h4>Methods</h4>Participating schools uploaded de-identified electronic health records from student health services monthly.<h4>Results</h4>During this study, just over 800,000 in ...[more]

PMID: 26086428

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Electronic health (eHealth) literacy has become an important topic in health fields. Studies have found that individuals with higher eHealth literacy are more likely to use preventive care services and to have effective interactions with their physicians. In addition, previous studies have revealed a gender difference in the utilization of physician access and outpatient services. Nevertheless, few studies have explored the effect of the three levels of eHealth literacy (functional, interactive, and critical levels) on the four aspects of health services utilization (type, site, purpose, and time interval). It is unclear whether the associations between these three levels of eHealth literacy and the four aspects of health services utilization among college students are positive or negative. OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to investigate the associations among gender, eHealth literacy, and health services utilization. METHODS:We used the eHealth Literacy Scale, a 12-item instrument designed to measure college students' functional, interactive, and critical eHealth literacy, and the Health Services Utilization Scale, which is a 10-item instrument developed to measure the four aspects of health services utilization by college students. A nationally representative sample of 489 college students in Taiwan was surveyed. We conducted multiple regression analysis to examine the associations among gender, eHealth literacy, and health services utilization. RESULTS:The study found that being female was negatively related to the purpose aspect of health services utilization (t487=-2.85, P<.01). However, the R2 value of gender on the purpose aspect was low enough to be ignored. Critical (t484=2.98-4.23, P<.01) and interactive eHealth literacy (t484=2.43-2.89, P<.05) were related to three aspects of the health services utilization, and functional eHealth literacy was related to the purpose aspect (t484=-4.99, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS:This study showed that Taiwanese college students with interactive eHealth literacy were more likely to have a higher rate of outpatient care use. Moreover, Taiwanese college students with critical eHealth literacy were more likely to make full use of health services than those with functional eHealth literacy. Finally, the educated and age-restricted sample may attenuate gender disparities in health services utilization among Taiwanese college students.

Project description:BackgroundHealth literacy is a multidimensional concept that is considered a primary public health concern. This concept is often neglected in research, and the evidence regarding health literacy in college students is limited. The aim of this study was two-fold: to determine the needs and limitations of health literacy among college students and to explore the relationships among the nine dimensions of health literacy and sociodemographic factors, including age, gender, nationality, year of study, field of study, smoking status, history of chronic diseases, use of on-campus gym, and the intention to exercise on-campus.MethodsThis study was conducted using a cross-sectional approach. A total of 520 college students participated in this study. The average age was 21.03 years (SD = 2.29), with 47.5% males and 52.5% females. Data were collected using a demographics questionnaire and the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). In addition to descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and follow-up analyses were performed to explore any statistically significant mean differences among levels of health literacy and sociodemographic factors.ResultsThe levels of health literacy on the nine HLQ scales were lower than the levels reported in the literature. Multivariate analysis showed a significant effect of age, gender, smoking status, year of study, and field of study on the level of health literacy. Follow-up analyses revealed that female students, students from the health-related faculties, and those who do not smoke have higher levels of health literacy compared to their counterparts. A detailed comparison between the levels of the HLQ scales was made based on students' demographic characteristics. The field of study had the most prominent effect on the level of college students' health literacy; mean differences were statistically significant (p < .001), and effect sizes were large (ranging from .66 to 1.35 for the nine scales of the HLQ).ConclusionCollege students' health literacy is influenced by demographic characteristics. Such variations could amplify some of the existing health disparities. The implications of the findings on health, health promotion, and interprofessional education are discussed.

Dataset Information

College Health Surveillance Network: Epidemiology and Health Care Utilization of College Students at US 4-Year Universities.

Objective

Participants

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

College Health Surveillance Network: Epidemiology and Health Care Utilization of College Students at US 4-Year Universities.

Similar Datasets

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