Health Literacy and Internet Health Information Seeking Behaviour in High School Students

Abstract

Driven by advances in information and communication technology, public health organizations are setting steps to help close the gap in access to health information. Most people use health applications to regulate their behavior in maintaining and improving health. This study aimed to determine relationship between levels of health literacy and internet health seeking behavior in high school students. This quantitative analytic study targeted high school students in Indonesia using online questionnaire of HLS-EU-Q-16 added with internet health seeking behavior questions which has been translated and validated. The questionnaire was distributed online in July-September 2017 with total response of 515 students. Most respondents showed sufficient level of high literacy. Their health literacy level has significant relationship with age, high school location, and their internet health seeking behaviors. Respondents' daily internet profiles are: smartphone users, having at least one way of internet connection, using at least one health-related application, and roughly using internet for 7-12 hours. Majority of them installed health information applications. Monthly data usage affects the type and/or amount of health applications used. Ability to access health information positively affects high school students in finding and understanding quality health information, which leads to higher level of health literacy.