A model of digital health communication media use during the Covid-19 pandemic
ISSN: 0965-4283
Article publication date: 9 June 2021
Issue publication date: 26 July 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to develop and test a model of digital health communication media (DHCM) use for healthy food information – DHCM usage – during the Covid-19 pandemic. More specifically, this research investigated the simultaneous effects of perceived threat of Covid-19, e-health literacy, attitude toward DHCM usage, knowledge toward DHCM usage, facilitating conditions and information quality on the DHCM usage.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical data were collected through a survey. The respondents of the survey are 192 DHCM users who lived in Tangerang Regency. Structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis was performed.
Findings
The DHCM usage during the Covid-19 pandemic is significantly affected by the attitude towards the DHCM usage and the facilitating conditions. However, the DHCM usage during the Covid-19 pandemic is not significantly affected by the perceived threat of Covid-19, e-health literacy, information quality and knowledge of the DHCM usage.
Research limitations/implications
This research was conducted only in Tangerang Regency and employed a purposive sampling technique. Future research should be conducted in other contexts to examine the stability of the research findings.
Practical implications
In order to improve DHCM usage for healthy food information, it is important for building a positive attitude towards DHCM usage and ensuring the availability of the facilitating conditions.
Originality/value
This paper is the first that develops and tests a model of DHCM usage for healthy food information during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
All authors are main contributor of this paper. The authors would also like to thanks to the management of Indonesian Institute of Sciences, the quality management research group and Nidya J Astrini that have supported this research.
Citation
Sumaedi, S., Sumardjo, S., Saleh, A. and Syukri, A.F. (2021), "A model of digital health communication media use during the Covid-19 pandemic", Health Education, Vol. 121 No. 5, pp. 465-485. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-03-2021-0040
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited