Digital Health Literacy in Patients With Common Chronic Diseases: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Abstract Background Digital health technology (DHT) plays an increasingly vital role in managing chronic diseases by enabling patients to actively manage their health. These tools have been shown to improve self-management and adherence to medical advice. However, for DHT to be fully effective, patients with chronic conditions must be digitally literate. The eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), an 8‑item tool with scores ranging from 8 to 40, was developed to assess individuals’ perceived ability to find, evaluate, and apply digital health information. Assessing patients’ digital health literacy (DHL) and understanding the factors influencing it are essential for improving the accessibility and usability of health resources.
Objective
This study aimed to assess DHL in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through a systematic review and meta‑analysis using eHEALS. We sought to determine average DHL scores, examine demographic and socioeconomic factors influencing DHL, and explore its impact on disease management to inform future strategies for enhancing DHL and improving chronic disease outcomes.
Methods
Following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, we conducted a systematic review across 7 databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, ERIC, CINAHL, Library Literature and Information Science Index, and Google Scholar) from inception to August 14, 2022, with an updated search in October 2024.…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 2,527 participants or records.
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