An electronic survey was conducted among students at Syracuse University to assess the usage and helpfulness of a new health promotion electronic newsletter, “Orange Health-e.” The newsletter was intended to provide healthy tips to students about nutrition, exercise, risky behavior avoidance and other preventive health advice.

The study was fielded between April 6 through May 10, 2005 among 6000 randomly selected students. A total of 301 responses was obtained yielding a response rate of 5%. Demographics showed that the sample skewed female (67%) and included more graduate students (36.9%).

Highlights of the study showed that parents were the most helpful as well as the most widely used source of health information. Nine out of 10 students rated their parents 7.2 on a 1-10 helpfulness scale. The internet tied on helpfulness and was used by 88.9% of the students. The third most helpful source of health information was health focused coursework but this was used by only 43.8% of the students. At the time of the fieldwork, the electronic newsletter had just been launched and it was rated 4.8 on helpfulness and used by 43.4% of the students.

In the fall, a similar follow up study will be conducted to assess the perception and use of the electronic newsletter. A third wave will be fielded in spring 2006.