Health Information-Seeking Behaviour Using Artificial Intelligence Applications in Mobile Phones Among University Undergraduates in Anambra State

Seeking health information is a common practice that helps individuals understand health conditions and manage illnesses. Among young people, this behaviour has increased due to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, improved mobile phone capabilities, and widespread internet access. However, despite the speed and convenience AI applications provide, there is a risk of inaccurate or misleading information, especially when users’ health conditions differ from the data on which the AI systems were trained. This study assessed the use of AI applications on mobile phones for health information-seeking among university undergraduates in Anambra State. The main objective was to examine undergraduates’ health information-seeking behaviour in relation to their utilization of AI mobile applications. The study was anchored on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Diffusion of Innovation theory. A quantitative survey design was adopted, using a structured Likert-scale questionnaire for data collection. From a population of 60,903 students, a sample size of 358 was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan formula. Data were analysed using mean scores, with 3.0 as the decision benchmark: items with mean scores below 3.0 were rejected, while those above 3.0 were accepted. Findings indicated that most respondents use AI applications on their mobile phones to seek health information, largely due to accessibility, convenience, and ease of interaction. The study concludes that although AI health information tools are useful, there is a need for greater caution and guidance regarding the quality of information accessed. It recommends the development and enforcement of stricter regulations on AI health information tools and the implementation of institutional educational programmes to improve students’ understanding of responsible AI use.