JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Background:

Increasing reliance on digital health resources can create disparities among older patients. Understanding health-related, mobility and socioeconomic factors associated with the use of eHealth technologies is important for addressing inequitable access to healthcare.

Objective:

We sought to assess digital health literacy among patients aged ≥ 65 years and identify factors associated with their ability to access, understand, and use digital health resources.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional survey including 871 patients aged ≥ 65 years. Analyses were performed to identify associations between digital health literacy and self-rated health, mobility and socioeconomic deprivation assessed with the area deprivation index (ADI).

Results:

Respondents with lower self-rated health had lower levels of digital health literacy with only 54.2% with poor self-rated health able to send a message to their doctor compared to 89.5% of patients with excellent self-rated health. All comparisons across the digital health literacy domains were statistically significant by self-rated health (P<0.05). Respondents with mobility restrictions had lower levels of digital health literacy across several domains with only 32.6% able to use a video/camera with their doctor compared to 48% without mobility restrictions (P=0.0010). Respondents with a high ADI (≥80%) also had lower levels of digital health literacy across several domains with only 57.4% able to send a message to their doctor compared to 80.2% without a high ADI.

Conclusions:

Our findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve engagement with eHealth among patients aged ≥ 65 years which is impacted by poor health, limited mobility, and socioeconomic deprivation. Enhancing digital health literacy can help bridge the gap in access to digital health resources and improve overall health outcomes for this population.