eHealth literacy research-Quo vadis?

Area of Science:

• Social and Information Sciences
• Digital Health
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Electronic health (eHealth) literacy encompasses the skills needed to use digital health services.
• The field is relatively new, lacking a comprehensive overview of current research and identified gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated perspective on eHealth literacy research.
• To identify critical research gaps for future scientific focus.

Main Methods:

• Viewpoint article synthesizing current research on eHealth literacy.
• Analysis of existing literature to identify conceptual and measurement challenges.

Main Results:

• A significant gap exists regarding a standardized "gold standard" for defining and measuring eHealth literacy.
• Implications for eHealth developers require further investigation based on user literacy levels.
• Health professionals are underrepresented in the evolving concept and measurement of eHealth literacy.

Conclusions:

• There is a need for consensus on eHealth literacy definitions and measurement tools.
• Understanding the impact of user eHealth literacy on eHealth design is crucial.
• Increased involvement of healthcare professionals is essential for advancing the field.