Mental health information-seeking behaviors and e-health literacy in Tunisian community adults

Introduction Due to the convenient and easy access Internet, there is an increasing tendency seek online health information instead of formal help-seeking. To date, a very little amount research on help-seeking behaviors for mental problems, with no studies having been performed in Tunisia. Objectives We aimed explore information-seeking e-health literacy sample Tunisian community adults. Methods cross-sectional descriptive study among adults from general population. All participants were administered Barriers Access Care Evaluation scale (BACE-30), Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (SIS-5), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), eHealth Competency (eHEALS). Results A total 44.2% reported searched Internet health-related during last 12 months. Google was most used tool by when searching related information. The main topics symptoms management (n=49%), followed finding diagnosis (n=47%), researching medications physicians (n=41%). conducted multivariate analysis identify factors participants’ literacy. higher depression score (p=0.037), lower levels education (p=0.011), perceived barriers care (p=0.004) substantially linked worse Conclusions While high proportion behaviors, those who more exhibited These findings may have practical clinical implications. Disclosure Interest None Declared