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Familiarity with the internet and health apps, and specific topic needs are amongst the factors that influence how online health information is used for health decisions amongst adolescents.

BACKGROUND
Many adolescents believe that online health information is reliable, particularly when they are familiar with the source of information.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the degree of influence of online health information on high school students' health decisions and examine whether socio-demographic characteristics, digital literacy, use of different websites and interest in specific health topics are associated with a stronger influence of online health information on adolescents' health-related decisions.


METHODS
Participants were students from four public high schools in Belgrade, Serbia. Socio-demographic and behavioural questionnaire as well as the e-health literacy scale (eHEALS) were used to collect data.


RESULTS
The study sample comprised 702 students. A total of 79.6% of students reported that online health information influenced their health decisions to a certain extent (from 'a little' to 'a lot'). Being a boy, using the internet since younger age, better self-perceived e-health literacy, using health apps, Google, health forums, websites of health institutions, social media and YouTube, being interested in diet/nutrition, sexually transmitted infections and cigarettes were the characteristics associated with a stronger influence of online health information on students' health decisions.


CONCLUSION
This study provides clues about how online health-related information can be used to adjust and enhance health promotion amongst adolescents.