Digital health literacy and COVID-19 pandemic: Results of a nationwide survey in Germany

Background Digital health literacy is important for interpreting information and making health decisions in an increasingly digitised world. We investigated the perceived digital health literacy and the attitudes towards digital information on the COVID-19 pandemic using a nationwide survey. Methods...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of public health 2021-10, Vol.31 (Supplement_3)
Main Authors: De Santis, KK, Jahnel, T, Sina, E, Wienert, J, Zeeb, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Confidence
Contact tracing
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Decisions
Education
Family income
General public
Health
Health education
Health literacy
Households
Income
Information
Internet
Literacy
Mean
Pandemics
Parallel Programme
Polls & surveys
Public health
Regression analysis
Respondents
Secondary education
Statistical analysis
Statistics
Telephone surveys
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Summary:Background Digital health literacy is important for interpreting information and making health decisions in an increasingly digitised world. We investigated the perceived digital health literacy and the attitudes towards digital information on the COVID-19 pandemic using a nationwide survey. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, computer-assisted telephone survey in October 2020 using a panel sample of Internet users selected from the general population living in Germany. Responses on items regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS; total sum score of 8=minimum to 40=maximum perceived digital health literacy) were analysed using descriptive statistics and a linear regression analysis. Results Of the 1014 Internet users, 928 (92%) completed the eHEALS. The respondents were 52% female, aged 14-93 years (mean±SD of 55±17 years), 66% with up to secondary education and 45% with up to average household income. The responses on eHEALS were consistent (Cronbach's α=.88). While the perceived digital health literacy was high (mean±SD eHEALS score of 31±6), less than half of respondents (43%) were confident in using digital information for health decisions. Higher digital health literacy was associated with younger age (β=-.22, p
ISSN:1101-1262
1464-360X
DOI:10.1093/eurpub/ckab164.274