The effect of health education through the internet on university female students' hepatitis B knowledge and cognition.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of internet health education on female university students' knowledge and cognition regarding hepatitis B. BACKGROUND: One of the focal points of preventing hepatitis B is to improve students' knowledge of hepatitis B. The internet is thought to attract learners, ensure privacy and provide channels for help. DESIGN: Cluster sampling was used to select 189 female students from two universities in Kaohsiung City. The participants were divided into 130 participants who agreed to participate in an internet health education program and 59 who did not. METHOD: The participants were administered questionnaires on 'hepatitis B knowledge' and 'hepatitis B cognition' before, two weeks after and four weeks after the health education intervention. The experimental group received an additional 'user satisfaction' survey at two weeks after the health education intervention. RESULTS: Participants in the internet hepatitis B educational program scored significantly higher in knowledge of hepatitis B at two and four weeks post intervention. No significant score differences were found in hepatitis B cognition in either of the groups two and four weeks. Sixty per cent of the experimental group indicated that the program was easy to understand, 67.69% found it helpful, 66.15% were generally satisfied with the content. Almost 67% (66.92%) thought the university should adopt and promote the web site. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study provides health professionals with a reference for hepatitis B health education programs.