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Decoding e-health literacy among Palestinian adolescents: a qualitative study in the West bank

Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Electronic health (e-health) literacy assists adolescents in seeking accurate and valid information. In this study, we aim to understand e-health literacy among Palestinian adolescents, by exploring their skills and online information-seeking strategies and understanding the socio-demographic influences. A qualitative study was conducted through seven semi-structured, face-to-face focus group discussions with 52 adolescents aged 15–19 from five districts in the West Bank, occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Participants were selected using maximum variation sampling. Data was collected from January to March 2024, with each focus group consisting of 6 to 9 participants. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. E-health literacy among Palestinian adolescents is influenced by individual, system, and interaction aspects. Individually, set of skills, including the ability to recognize misleading content, is a key milestone. At the system level, adolescents prefer direct communication with experts and rely on search engines like Google, verifying information through various strategies. Political instability and economic challenges shape how adolescents’ perceptions of health information and their interaction with online health resources, influencing how they engage with and trust digital health information. Our results were presented in four main themes: Adolescents’ knowledge and influencing factors, the internet, its platforms, and available resources, approaches and strategies for seeking health information online, and challenges and the impact of limited E-health literacy on adolescents. Palestinian adolescents are aware of the skills needed to navigate online health information, employing various strategies to read and verify information through different approaches. However, their e-health literacy and access are shaped by personal factors, technology-related challenges, and an unstable political environment. There is a shortage of online sources providing health information and services specifically tailored for adolescents. Furthermore, many adolescents lack the skill to assess and effectively use these resources, a challenge further compounded by low e-health literacy rates. While online health resources offer benefits like improved access and convenience, they also pose potential risks, including exposure to inaccurate information, inappropriate content, and cyber bullying. This exploratory study aims to assess Palestinian adolescents’ ability to search for and validate online information, identify their sources of health information, and examine the factors influencing their information-seeking behavior. Findings form the present study suggest that Palestinian adolescents often encounter health information online passively - through ads, social media, or recommendations from friends-rather than actively searching for it. They prefer websites that offer direct communication with experts and are easy to navigate. Adolescents seek health information that is trustworthy, easily accessible, and simple to understand; however, they often lack the skills and resources needed to verify its accuracy. They face several challenges, including fear, limited knowledge on how to find and evaluate reliable information, and limited local resources. Those obstacles frequently leave them feeling excluded. The study recommends integrating health and technology education into school curricula to equip adolescents with skills to find reliable online information. Additionally, it advocates for peer education initiatives and the development of more youth-friendly local health resources.
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-22825-x
Institution: Birzeit University
Language: English
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,290
OpenAlex ID: W4409828535
FWCI: 1.211
Cites: 40
Cited by: 1
Related to: 10