DIGITAL HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PRE-ELDERLY PERSONNEL AT A UNIVERSITY IN NORTHEASTERN THAILAND: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

The rapid growth of the aging population has increased the importance of digital health knowledge in supporting effective health management, particularly among pre-elderly individuals. This study aimed to assess the level of digital health knowledge and examine its association with personal factors and digital health–related technology use behaviors among pre-elderly personnel at a university in northeastern Thailand.

            A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 50 personnel aged 45–59 years, selected using a stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering personal characteristics, digital health–related technology use behaviors, and digital health knowledge. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was applied to examine associations.

            The results showed that most participants had a moderate level of digital health knowledge (46.0%), followed by low (34.0%) and high levels (20.0%). Age and job category were significantly associated with digital health knowledge (p<0.05), with younger participants and academic staff demonstrating higher levels of knowledge. In contrast, digital health–related technology use behaviors were not significantly associated with knowledge level.

            These findings suggest that digital health knowledge is influenced by demographic factors rather than the frequency of technology use. Therefore, targeted interventions focusing on older age groups and support staff, as well as enhancing the ability to critically evaluate digital health information, are essential to improve digital health knowledge among pre-elderly populations.