This study examined university students? attitudes towards and skill levels of
using social networking sites to promote public health information online. Data were collected
from the student participants who were health professionals from six different countries. The
participants were given surveys before and after their training. The surveys assessed: (1) their
comfort levels in using social networking sites, (2) their attitudes towards online health information
dissemination, and (3) their ability to create effective online health information sites. A Health
Sciences faculty member worked with an instructional designer and technologist to create a training
video and guidelines for designing effective online websites. Training materials were posted to the
online course area. Working in collaborative teams, the student participants developed online
health social networking sites that targeted global health education issues. Competence and skill
level of students were assessed using project-based learning criteria. Results of the study reveal:
(1) participants have a high comfort level in using social networking sites, (2) participants, in
general, have positive attitudes toward online health information, and (3) participants are highly
competent in creating online health information sites.
