Association of electronic health literacy with health-promoting behaviours in adolescents

Aim This study aimed to determine the electronic health (e-health) literacy level of high school students and its relationship with their health-promoting behaviours. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted between April and May 2018. The study sample consisted of 409 students, who were aged between 14 and 19 years old, in three high schools located in the city centre of Denizli. Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the predictive variables for six dimensions of health-promoting behaviours. Results In this study, the mean (SD) e-health literacy score of 27.89 (6.19) was slightly above moderate level. e-Health literacy was found to significantly predict all six dimensions of health-promoting behaviours positively, that is, e-health literacy was determined to predict the dimensions of nutritional behaviours (beta = 0.64, P < 0.001), life appreciation (beta = 0.55, P < 0.001), social support (beta = 0.72, P < 0.001), exercise (beta = 0.36, P < 0.001), stress management (beta = -0.22, P < 0.001) and health responsibility (beta = 0.68, P < 0.001). Conclusion With e-health literacy significantly predictive of health-promoting behaviours, nurses are recommended to consider the e-health literacy levels of adolescents in the health-promoting programs they design.

Automated summary

This study aimed to determine the e-health literacy level of high school students and its relationship with health-promoting behaviors. The results showed that e-health literacy significantly predicted all six dimensions of health-promoting behaviors, including nutritional behaviors, life appreciation, social support, exercise, stress management, and health responsibility. Nurses are recommended to consider adolescents' e-health literacy levels when designing health-promoting programs.