The use of digital technologies in the promotion of health literacy and empowerment of informal caregivers: a scoping review
ABSTRACT
Background:
Informal caregivers play an important role in the community as healthcare providers to people who are dependent. Health literacy contributes to empowering, care and self-management of one’s own health and can be enhanced by using digital technologies.
Objective:
To map scientific evidence about the use of digital technologies to promote health literacy and empowerment of informal caregivers.
Methods:
A scoping review was carried out following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. CINAH, MEDLINE, SCOPUS and PUBMED were the databases searched to find primary studies about the theme. Inclusion criteria were based on the Population, Concept and Context (PCC) logic. To be selected for analysis studies must had involved informal/family caregivers aged 18 or older who provide care to dependent persons and who have access to the Internet and digital devices (computer, smartphone, tablet). Two independent researchers made the screening process.
Results:
Nine studies were included in the review. The analysis of the studies showed that informal caregivers use digital tools, such as computers and smartphones, with smartphones being the preferred tool. Informal caregivers use the Internet to access information, manage home tasks, and communicate with relatives, their peers, healthcare professionals, and forums. Due to difficulties in leaving their houses, forums are highly valued to preserve human connections.
Conclusions:
The use of digital technologies to convey clear, objective, reliable, and accessible information is a strategic action for promoting health literacy and for contemplating the variable care needs of informal caregivers. By working with informal caregivers in the development of new technologies, researchers are building a new tool that meets informal caregivers’ needs. Clinical Trial: This study is part of a main project which was approved by the Ethics Committee for Health of the Regional Health Administration of Lisbon and Tagus Valley (reference 058/CES/INV/2022).
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