Clinical Report: Exploring the Link Between eHealth Literacy and Health-Related Behaviors

Overview

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the association between eHealth literacy and health-related behaviors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the integration of digital platforms in health information seeking and service navigation. As misinformation proliferates, eHealth literacy has become essential for individuals to effectively access and utilize health information.

Data Highlights

No specific numerical data or trial results were provided in the source material.

Key Findings

• eHealth literacy is defined as the ability to seek, find, understand, and apply health information from electronic sources.
• The review categorizes health behaviors into health decision-making, health-promoting, and health management behaviors.
• Measurement heterogeneity in eHealth literacy instruments complicates the synthesis of evidence.
• Prior reviews have shown a positive association between eHealth literacy and health-related outcomes.
• Different health behaviors may depend on varying degrees of capability, opportunity, and motivation.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare professionals should recognize the importance of eHealth literacy in facilitating health-related behaviors among patients. Tailoring interventions to enhance eHealth literacy could improve health decision-making and management in diverse patient populations.

Conclusion

The review highlights the complexity of the relationship between eHealth literacy and health behaviors.

Related Resources & Content

1. Norman, C.D., Skinner, H.A., 2006 -- eHealth Literacy: Essential Skills for Consumer Health in a Networked World
2. World Health Organization, 2025 -- Health Literacy
3. JMIR Preprints, 2026 -- The Association Between eHealth Literacy and Health Behaviors During and Since the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
4. DIGITAL HEALTH — The association between digital health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors among youth: Systematic review of cross-sectional studies
5. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology — Educational methods to improve digital health literacy: a systematic review and meta-analysis for the EAPC Opti(MI)se initiative
6. Journal of General Internal Medicine — The Effects of a Short Video Intervention on Digital Health Literacy Skills: An Online Randomised Controlled Trial
7. The association between digital health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors among youth
8. Educational methods to improve digital health literacy
9. The Effects of a Short Video Intervention on Digital Health Literacy Skills
10. Health literacy
11. JMIR Preprints #94233: The Association Between eHealth Literacy and Health Behaviors During and Since the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
12. Systematic review of the measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) of eHealth literacy in adult populations | Systematic Reviews | Springer Nature Link