Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Health Literacy

Health Literacy

Health literacy is an individual's or a community's capacity to comprehend, receive, read, and use relevant healthcare information and services. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2018) defines health literacy as the cognitive and social skills that determine the ability of individuals to gain access to, understand, and use information in ways that promote and maintain good health. As a result, the WHO helps individuals manage long-term health concerns, participate in preventative programs,...

Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I

Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I

A model is a theoretical way to understand a concept or an idea. Models can overcome barriers to health regardless of diverse economic and cultural backgrounds. In addition, models make the task easier by providing different ways to approach complex issues. There are two major health promotion models: the health belief model and the health promotion model.
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern

Assessing the gastrointestinal (GI) system is a complex process that begins with collecting subjective data. This data, collected through patient interviews, provides crucial insights into the patient's health history, perception patterns, and lifestyle habits, all contributing significantly to GI health.
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:

Self-Discrepancy Theory

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.

Self-Schemas

Self-Schemas

In general, a schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.

Concepts of Health and Illness

Concepts of Health and Illness

Health is a condition of the body, mind, and spirit where an individual remains free from illness. Similarly, wellness is an active state, including living a lifestyle that promotes physical, mental, and emotional health. Physical health is critical for the overall well-being and can be affected by lifestyle, activity level, diet, and behavior. The highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental and universal human right. Consider Lisa, a fifteen-year-old born with congenital...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A Systematic Review of Online Medical Consultation Research.

Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2024

Same author

Online Health Information Seeking Among Patients With Chronic Conditions: Integrating the Health Belief Model and Social Support Theory.

Journal of medical Internet research·2022

Same author

Customer Experience towards the Product during a Coronavirus Outbreak.

Behavioural neurology·2022

Same author

The Impact of Online Learning System on Students Affected with Stroke Disease.

Behavioural neurology·2022

Same author

Online Health Information Seeking Behaviors Among Older Adults: Systematic Scoping Review.

Journal of medical Internet research·2022

Same author

Short-Video Apps as a Health Information Source for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Information Quality Assessment of TikTok Videos.

Journal of medical Internet research·2021

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

E-Patient Counseling Trial (E-PACO): Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy

E-Patient Counseling Trial (E-PACO): Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy

Published on: August 1, 2019

The Relation Between eHealth Literacy and Online Health Information-Seeking Behavior: Systematic Review and

Xi Wang¹, Tian Shen², Xi Chen³

¹School of Information Management, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Journal of Medical Internet Research

|July 15, 2026

Summary

eHealth literacy significantly impacts online health information-seeking (OHIS), but this association varies by generation and source credibility. Interventions should be tailored, especially for Gen Z, focusing on motivation and professional information environments.

Keywords:

Generation Z digital health literacy eHealth literacy generational differences meta-analysis online health information seeking behavior

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 17, 2026

E-Patient Counseling Trial (E-PACO): Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy

E-Patient Counseling Trial (E-PACO): Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy

Published on: August 1, 2019

Area of Science:

Digital Health
Health Communication
Information Science

Background:

Online health information-seeking (OHIS) is crucial for health self-management.
eHealth literacy, the ability to find, evaluate, and use digital health information, is a key driver of OHIS.
Previous reviews lacked focus on the specific link between eHealth literacy and OHIS across diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify the strength and heterogeneity of the eHealth literacy-OHIS association.
To identify boundary conditions influencing this association, including generation, morbidity status, and information source credibility.

Main Methods:

Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines.
Searched major databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, etc.) up to March 2026.
Analyzed 32 studies (19 in meta-analysis) using random-effects models and subgroup analyses (age, morbidity, source type).

Main Results:

The overall eHealth literacy-OHIS correlation was 0.27, but with extreme heterogeneity (I²=99%).
Stronger associations were found in non-Gen Z (r=0.39) vs. Gen Z (r=0.07), patients (r=0.58) vs. nonpatients (r=0.22), and with professional (r=0.41) vs. nonprofessional (r=0.21) sources.
No significant temporal trend was observed in the association.

Conclusions:

The eHealth literacy-OHIS link is context-dependent, varying significantly by generation and information source.
eHealth literacy's predictive validity is cohort- and platform-specific.
Future interventions for Gen Z and nonpatients require motivational components and curated information environments; further longitudinal research is needed.