A Review of Research on Factors Influencing Chinese College Students Surrogate Online Health Information Seeking

Despite the rapid growth of online medical care, the middle-aged and elderly face a significant digital divide due to low media literacy. They require assistance from the younger generation to navigate online medical information. College students are a unique group in this process. They possess strong media abilities and enough time for digital feedback, making surrogate online health information seeking normal. Chinese researchers have conducted in-depth studies on the factors influencing college students alternative searches for health information. This paper will provide an overview of these studies. The paper summarizes the factors influencing surrogate searches by analyzing what Chinese researchers have adopted. According to the study, three dimensions have been identified. These dimensions include health worries, intrinsic drive value, and the relationship between patients and health providers. It is vital to consider these dimensions when evaluating healthcare experiences and outcomes. However, existing research in China mainly focuses on rural college students, and few studies have examined urban college students. This paper conjectures that media competence does not play the primary role in the surrogate online health information seeking of urban college students and proposes a model for further study.