The digital age has ushered in an era where digital health literacy is indispensable. This skill set enables individuals to navigate a plethora of online health information, impacting their health resource use and outcomes. Understanding the associations between digital health literacy and sociodemographic characteristics, as well as its effect on health outcomes, is critical for enhancing public health strategies.
A comprehensive review was conducted to explore the relationships between digital health literacy and various sociodemographic factors, health resource utilization, and health outcomes. The rapid review analyzed literature published from January 2016 to May 2022, examining 36 articles sourced from four web-based databases. This review aimed to determine patterns and associations in adult populations from English-speaking countries.
Key Sociodemographic Characteristics
Results indicated that digital health literacy frequently correlated with higher education levels and younger age, as observed in 76.2% and 57.1% of studies, respectively. Interestingly, gender differences were negligible across the majority of studies. However, conclusions about ethnic disparities were inconclusive, with some studies suggesting that racial and ethnic minority groups had higher digital health literacy compared to White individuals, while others found no significant differences.
Health Resource Use and Outcomes
Higher digital health literacy was strongly linked to increased utilization of digital health resources in over half of the analyzed studies. Furthermore, a positive association was found between digital health literacy and health outcomes in nearly half of the studies, particularly in areas such as psychosocial outcomes, chronic disease management, and physical health outcomes. Nonetheless, some research contradicted these general findings, suggesting the complexity of this relationship.
Market Access Insights
– Higher education and younger age are key predictors of enhanced digital health literacy, influencing market access to digital health tools.
– Ethnic disparities in digital health literacy require further investigation to tailor market strategies effectively.
– Increased digital health literacy expands the market for digital health resources, potentially improving public health outcomes.
– Strategies to improve digital health literacy could open new markets for technology companies and health service providers.
The mixed findings underscore the necessity for continued research, particularly focusing on chronic disease outcomes across diverse populations. Empowering individuals with digital health literacy is vital, as those with lower literacy levels are prone to seeking unreliable health information. Identifying cost-effective strategies to boost digital health literacy across community settings remains a pressing need.
In conclusion, while digital health literacy is generally associated with better health outcomes and behaviors, the evidence is not uniformly consistent. Further investigations are essential to develop targeted interventions that enhance digital health literacy, thereby improving health outcomes and resource utilization.
Original Article: Interact J Med Res. 2024 Jul 26;13:e46888. doi: 10.2196/46888.
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