Adolescents' disease- and fitness-related online health information seeking behaviors: The roles of perceived trust in online health information, eHealth literacy, and parental factors

Güleç, Hayriye; Kvardova, Nikol; Ŝmahel, David

doi:10.1016/j.chb.2022.107318

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…In other words, adolescents whose parents discussed the reliability and trustworthiness of online health information more frequently with their children were more likely to use mHealth apps. This finding supports previous research that demonstrated the significant role of parental mediation of internet use in adolescents’ online health behaviors and eHealth literacy skills [ 26 , 27 ]. Parental involvement in enhancing the eHealth literacy skills of adolescents could be a significant social determinant for their health-promoting behaviors in the digital space.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…These findings were in line with previous research that indicated sociodemographic differences for age and gender between mHealth app users and nonusers in representative adolescent samples [ 3 , 4 , 13 ]. The increased use of health technologies in older adolescents and girls could be associated with the higher frequency of online health information–seeking behaviors reported for this segment of adolescents [ 27 ]. To interpret our findings further, it should be noted that the between-group comparisons revealed a small effect size for age, whereas the effect size for gender was negligible ( Table 1 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Parental mediation refers to the behaviors and strategies applied by parents to regulate their children’s media use [ 25 ]. Previous studies showed that parental mediation was associated with adolescents’ online health behaviors and eHealth literacy skills [ 26 , 27 ]. In this study, we focused on the parental mediation of online health information–seeking behaviors, which refers to parents’ involvement in enhancing adolescents’ eHealth literacy skills for assessing the quality and trustworthiness of online health information.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Individual and Parental Factors of Adolescents’ mHealth App Use: Nationally Representative Cross-sectional Study

Güleç

Ŝmahel

2022

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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Background Knowledge of the characteristics of adolescents who use mobile health (mHealth) apps to monitor health and how these characteristics differ from those of app nonusers is limited. Objective We aimed to determine mHealth app use based on adolescent and parental factors, including sociodemographics, digital skills, and health indicators, in a nationally representative sample of Czech adolescents (N=2500). Methods Adolescents aged 11 to 16 years and one of their parents participated in an online survey in 2021. A professional research agency recruited the participants. Quotas were used to ensure the sample’s representativeness. The sociodemographic factors were the adolescents’ age, gender, and parental perceived financial security. The adolescents also provided information about their screen time, eHealth literacy, BMI, health anxiety, physical activity, and sleep quality. Parents reported their digital skills, mobile phone attitudes, and the mediation of their children’s online health information–seeking behaviors. We evaluated the differences between the users and nonusers of mHealth apps and identified the significant predictors of mHealth app use. Next, we separately examined how these factors were associated with the use of mHealth apps that track calorie intake or expenditure, number of steps, weight, or sports activity (eg, exercise, running, and working out), as well as other mHealth apps (eg, those that track sleep and heart rate). Results More than half of the adolescents (1429/2455, 58.21%) reported using mHealth apps. App users were relatively older and, more often, girls. Apps that counted the number of steps were used most frequently, and adolescents whose parents reported higher perceived financial security used them more regularly. Overall, being older and physically active and having higher eHealth literacy skills were associated with using mHealth apps. Adolescents with higher BMI, health anxiety, and lower sleep quality more frequently used mHealth apps to track calorie intake or expenditure, weight, and health indicators. mHealth apps to track physical activity were used more regularly by girls. There was a positive association between parental mediation of online health information–seeking behaviors and adolescents’ mHealth app use. Conclusions These findings demonstrated that older age, physical activity, and eHealth literacy skills were the common underlying factors of adolescents’ mHealth app use. We initially showed parents as significant role models for their children’s adoption of, and engagement with, mHealth apps when they actively mediate their online health information–seeking behaviors. Improving the eHealth literacy skills of adolescents through parental guidance might enhance health technology use in this population. Tracking eating behaviors, weight, and health were more prevalent for adolescents who reported higher BMI, health anxiety, and lower sleep quality. Future research studies should examine the determinants and health outcomes of adolescents’ mHealth app use longitudinally.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Individual and Parental Factors of Adolescents’ mHealth App Use: Nationally Representative Cross-sectional Study

Güleç

Ŝmahel

2022

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

Self Cite

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“…Regarding health, research has shown that the use of digital technology to obtain health information is associated with positive youth development ( Gómez-Baya et al, 2022 ). A key role is played by the parents of these adolescents, who are significant role models in the use of digital technology ( Gulec et al, 2022 ). Research has also shown that technology can be a very useful tool in sharing health information between adolescents, by inviting pediatric influencers who spread health messages to their followers ( Bozzola et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technology supports me: Perceptions of the benefits of digital technology in adolescents

et al. 2023

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BackgroundTechnology plays a significant role in the lives of adolescents. Our knowledge is predominantly based on research exploring the risks associated with it, but adolescents also feel that technology supports their lives. This has received less consideration. Therefore, we aim to examine how adolescents perceive the benefits of digital technology.MethodsWe used qualitative data collected as part of the international Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study. We conducted online, semi-structured interviews with 15 Slovak adolescents who came from three different types of secondary schools based on their graduation systems (mean age: 15.33; 20% boys). The data were analyzed using consensual qualitative research and thematic analysis.ResultsWe identified five main themes based on the comments of adolescents: 1. I know (source of information, formal and non-formal education); 2. I can (smart device, helpful tool); 3. I am connected/included (social interactions); 4. I have my comfortable place (leisure time, creating my alternative world); and 5. I work on my future (self-development).ConclusionAdolescents perceived digital technology as mostly supportive and a helpful tool in their lives. The potential benefits of digital technology should be better reflected in public perception and policy, as the societal debate is mostly dominated by perceived disadvantages and risks.

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“…Even though today´s adolescents have been referred to as “digital natives”, they do not necessarily have the competencies to evaluate online health information [ 15 , 16 ]. Deficiencies in finding, evaluating, and applying online health information, i.e., a lower eHealth literacy, also influenced adults´ use of patient portals [ 17 ], and adolescents´ online health information-seeking behaviours [ 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interest in using patient portals among adolescents in mental health care - a cross-sectional study

Nielsen

Steinsbekk

Nøst

2023

BMC Health Serv Res

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Introduction Adolescents in mental health care may benefit from using patient portals to access personalised information about their health and treatment. While no studies have considered the interest in using patient portals among adolescents in mental health care, factors such as patient activation, self-reported health, depressive symptoms, diagnosis, healthcare utilisation, and eHealth literacy have been found to be associated with interest in and use of patient portals in other patient groups. Therefore, the aim was to explore the associations between interest in using patient portals and patient activation, self-reported health, depressive symptoms, diagnosis, healthcare utilisation and eHealth literacy among adolescents in specialist mental health care. Methods A cross-sectional study among adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age receiving or having received treatment at four different specialist child and adolescent mental healthcare services across Norway. The adolescents´ answers to the questionnaire were linked to data on their healthcare utilisation and ICD-10 diagnoses from the Norwegian Patient Registry. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and bivariate tests. Results The 53 adolescents who participated, had a mean age of 15 years and 68% of them identified as female. Two out of three (64%) were interested in using patient portals. Most of the factors were not associated with interest in using patient portals. However, adolescents with mental and behavioural disorders (F diagnoses, 75% interested) were more interested in using patient portals compared to those with symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state, and behaviour (R diagnoses, 31% interested). Conclusion Except for mental health diagnosis, this study did not identify any specific factors likely to impact patient portal interest among adolescents in specialist mental health care.

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Adolescents' disease- and fitness-related online health information seeking behaviors: The roles of perceived trust in online health information, eHealth literacy, and parental factors

Cited by 13 publications

References 50 publications

Individual and Parental Factors of Adolescents’ mHealth App Use: Nationally Representative Cross-sectional Study

Individual and Parental Factors of Adolescents’ mHealth App Use: Nationally Representative Cross-sectional Study

Technology supports me: Perceptions of the benefits of digital technology in adolescents

Interest in using patient portals among adolescents in mental health care - a cross-sectional study

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