How has health literacy and digital health literacy scholarship evolved? A global, qualitative study

Bibliographic Data

ID22945293
AuthorsBrooks Yelton (0000-0001-5340-3768, University of South Carolina), Mayank Sakhuja (0000-0001-8688-1985, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina , 323A Rosenau Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599), Simone Kavarana (University of South Carolina), Lauren Schaurer (University of South Carolina), Michelle A Arent (0009-0005-0929-9349, University of South Carolina), Lorie Donelle (0000-0001-9276-8639, University of South Carolina), Mark M Macauda (0000-0002-9872-8774, University of South Carolina), Samuel Noblet (0009-0006-3182-758X, Envera Health , 10307 W Broad St #283, Glen Allen, VA 23060), Daniela B Friedman (0000-0002-9359-093X, University of South Carolina)
Year2024
Volume39
Issue5
Publication date2024-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/daae123
PMID39397745
OpenAlexW4403403243
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited36

Health literacy (HL) is a key social determinant of health (SDoH) and is of increasing importance in public health research and intervention for improved health outcomes. Definitions of HL and digital health literacy (DHL) have evolved over time as the field has expanded conceptualization from an individual focus to the broader community and organizational levels. Careful consideration of HL and DHL for a variety of contexts and audiences is critical given increased global adoption of digital technologies and responses to emerging public health challenges. This study aimed to capture researchers’ conceptualizations of HL/DHL and their motivations to engage in this research with attention to SDoH and equity principles. We developed a survey comprising 32 open-ended and multiple-choice questions from which we present participant demographics and overall research affiliations (n = 193), and results from two multiple-choice and three open-ended questions. The three open-ended questions were inductively reviewed and coded using thematic analysis and iterative discussions between multiple coders, while the two multiple-choice questions were descriptively analyzed via SPSS. Findings are situated within the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and inform the international field of HL/DHL research by highlighting momentum and opportunities for increased scholarship.

Conceptualization · Focus group · Health care · Health equity · Health literacy · Literacy · Pedagogy · Political science · Public health · Public relations · Qualitative research · Scholarship · Social science · Sociology · Thematic analysis · Health Literacy and Information Accessibility · Medicine · Mobile Health and mHealth Applications · Nursing · Psychology · Social Media in Health Education