Digital Health Literacy in the General Population: National Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Health Literacy
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Digital health technologies are advancing rapidly, improving health management.
• Digital health literacy (DHL) is a key factor influencing health outcomes.
• Understanding DHL is essential for equitable healthcare access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess digital health literacy (DHL) among Korean adults.
• To identify sociodemographic and health literacy factors associated with DHL.
• To inform equitable digital health strategies and identify vulnerable populations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey of 1041 Korean adults aged 19+ was conducted in July 2022.
• A task-based assessment tool, the Digital Health Technology Literacy Assessment Questionnaire, was used to evaluate DHL.
• Online surveys were used for participants under 55, and face-to-face interviews for those 55+ to mitigate the digital divide.

Main Results:

• 27.8% of Korean adults exhibited low DHL, with significant challenges in mobile app usage and critical health information evaluation.
• The average DHL score was 73.8/100. Low DHL was strongly associated with older age (≥60), lower income (≤$2000/month), unemployment, and inadequate general health literacy.
• Only 17% of the low DHL group could sign up for an app, compared to 95.2% in the high DHL group.

Conclusions:

• Significant digital health disparities persist among Korean adults.
• Tailored strategies for mobile apps and digital health technologies are necessary.
• Addressing modifiable factors like general health literacy is crucial for equitable digital health access and utilization.