JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

As a result of having easy access to the internet and mobile devices, a great part of the population uses the internet in order to search for information related to health; therefore, health literacy on the internet has gained importance.

Objective:

The study aimed to determine the e-health literacy levels of adolescents in Turkey and assess the correlation between e-health literacy and socio-demographic and health statuses.

Methods:

The sample was composed of 1082 adolescents in the age group of 14–18 years, studying in the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades of three high schools, from low, middle, and high socioeconomic backgrounds. The data were collected using a data collection form consisting of questions related to the adolescents and the socio-demographic characteristics of their parents, as well as the E-Health Literacy Scale for Adolescents. The predictors of e-health literacy among adolescents were analyzed through linear regression.

Results:

It was determined in the study that the level of e-health literacy was affected by factors such as age, number of siblings, family income status, having a computer, and reading about health issues in general and about their own health on the Internet. In the study, the e-health mean scores of adolescents having high socioeconomic levels were found to be statistically higher (F = 2.153, p < 0.000).

Conclusions:

The results revealed the significance of improving the e-health literacy skills of male adolescents at low socioeconomic levels, using the Internet less, so that they can effectively access online health information. In the near future, more training programs suitable for the developmental period of the adolescents could be organized in the schools to increase the e-health literacy of adolescents.