The effect of sociodemographic characteristics of adolescents on E-Health literacy

Abstract

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. Methods The study was conducted in three schools from different socioeconomic levels (low, middle, high) affiliated with the Provincial Directorate of Education in the capital city of Turkey, Ankara city. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 1082 adolescents in the age group of 14 and 18 years, who were studying in the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades in the selected schools. The data were collected using a data collection form consisting of questions related to the adolescents and the sociodemographic characteristics of their parents, as well as E-Health Literacy Scale in Adolescents. The predictors of e-health literacy in adolescents were analyzed through linear regression. Results It was found that the e-health literacy mean score of the adolescents was 26.9±7.6 in the study. There was a correlation between e-health literacy and the increase in the age of the adolescent, monthly income of the family, the status of having a computer for the child, the status of reading subjects related to health on the internet, and the status of reading subjects related to their own health on the internet among characteristics of adolescents. 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 importance of improving the e-health literacy skills of male adolescents, having low socioeconomic levels and using less internet, in order to have access to online health information effectively. Key messages Training programs suitable for the developmental period of the adolescents should be organized in the school to increase the e-health literacy of adolescents. The adolescents in high socioeconomic status have higher electronic health literacy than the adolescent in low and middle socioeconomic status.