Clicks, trust, and care: Digital health engagement among university students in Pakistan

Digital health platforms have reshaped health information seeking, particularly among university students, yet their engagement in developing contexts such as Pakistan remains underexplored. Guided by an integrated theoretical framework combining the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study investigates how Pakistani university students use digital health platforms. A cross-sectional survey of 1124 students examined platform use, perceived credibility, barriers, and demographic influences. Results indicate frequent use of search engines (88.1 %) and YouTube (64.7 %) for mental health and symptom-related information, with institutional websites rated the most credible. Perceived usefulness, ease of use, and credibility significantly predicted engagement, while female students and those in health-related fields showed higher involvement. Unexpectedly, self-rated general health did not correlate with platform use, signifying preventive health-seeking behaviors. The findings highlight the need for user-friendly, credible digital health platforms and targeted literacy programs to enhance engagement, offering implications for public health and education in Pakistan.