Assessing Electronic Health Literacy at an Urban Academic Hospital

Abstract

Background Residents of the Bronx suffer marked health disparities due to socioeconomic and other factors. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic worsened these health outcome disparities and health care access disparities, especially with the abrupt transition to online care.

Objectives This study classified electronic health literacy (EHL) among patients at an urban, academic hospital in the Bronx, and assessed for associations between EHL levels and various demographic characteristics.

Methods We designed a cross-sectional, observational study in adults 18 years or older presenting to the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care (MECCC) Department of Radiation Oncology or the Montefiore Department of Medicine in the Bronx. We assessed EHL using the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) survey, a previously validated tool, and our newly developed eHealth Literacy Objective Scale-Scenario Based (eHeLiOS-SB) tool.

Results A total of 97 patients recruited from the MECCC and Department of Medicine participated in this study. There was a statistically significant association between age and EHL as assessed by both eHEALS and eHeLiOS-SB, with older adults having lower EHL scores. Additionally, a question designed to assess general attitudes toward digital health technologies found that most participants had a positive attitude toward such applications.

Conclusion Many patients, especially older adults, may require additional support to effectively navigate telehealth. Further research is warranted to optimize telemedicine strategies in this potentially-marginalized population and ultimately to create telehealth practices accessible to patients of all ages and demographics.

Keywords

digital health literacy - electronic health literacy - eHEALS - eHeLiOS-SB

Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

This study was approved by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine's IRB. Patients were fully informed of the purpose, potential risks, and other critical issues regarding this study. The consent form used to consent patients included all elements as required by CFR 21 Part 50.25 and the local IRB. Information about the subjects was kept confidential and managed according to the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

^* These authors contributed equally to this study.

Publication History

Received: 02 December 2022

Accepted: 21 February 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
23 February 2023

Article published online:
17 May 2023

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