Objective: To describe the current state and analyze challenges in receiving political and social information among students and trainees at Hanoi Medical University in the context of industry 4.0.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 500 students and trainees selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire with a 5-point Likert scale, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, comparative tests, and multiple linear regression.
Results: Students had high exposure to digital information, with 44% using the Internet for 6 or more hours per day and 44.6% spending at least 3 hours per day on social media. Trust in official sources was relatively high (3.82 ± 0.81 points), self-perceived verification competence reached 3.51 ± 0.76 points, yet actual responsive behavior was the lowest (2.79 ± 0.81 points). The regression model explained 53.9% of variance (Adjusted R² = 0.539), with trust in official sources being the strongest predictor (B = 0.630; p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Medical students at Hanoi Medical University are heavily exposed to digital information but show limited verification behavior in practice. Educational interventions are needed to enhance verification competence and narrow the gap between awareness and actual responsive practice.