EDUCATION FOR DIGITAL SKILLS RELATED TO HEALTH PROTECTION

Abstract

Current studies show that health and technologies are linked phenomena in contemporary times, mainly due to the large volume of research data that relates to illness and intense computer use. The present research investigated a group of graduate students from a Brazilian university based on questions about self-care with the health of these users. The research, of a qualitative and exploratory nature, carried out between 2020 and 2021, sought to identify levels of digital proficiency through an inquiry instrument that provoked the subjects to carry out self-assessment in Area of Competence 4.3 – Health Protection, as an offshoot of Area of Competence A4 – Safety, using a Likert scale of frequency.  Results indicate that part of the students are still not aware of the health risks associated with the use of technology. In the entry-level proficiency, 21.56% of students demonstrate that they do not know how to protect themselves from cyberbullying, as well as they are not clear that technology can affect their health if it is misused in online environments. It was identified that 48% of students say they know how to find a good balance between the online and offline worlds, a skill required at the advanced level. The research points to the need for institutions that deal with virtual education to create safety protocols for health protection.