Factors Associated With Digital Health Literacy in the United Kingdom: Cross-Sectional Online Survey
By
Holly Exton-Smith
Sara Sousi
Albandari Alharbi
Austen El-Osta
Geva Greenfield
Benedict Hayhoe
Azeem Majeed
Ana Luísa Neves
July 8, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Determinants of Digital Health Literacy in the UK: A Cross-Sectional Online Study
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Digital Health Literacy Key Mechanisms Ability to search, find, understand, and evaluate health information from electronic resources. Target Population General population in the UK, including various social groups such as university students and older adults. Care Setting Digital health technologies and services within the National Health Service (NHS) framework.
Key Highlights
Digital health literacy is crucial for navigating digital health technologies. Improved DHL can facilitate self-management of health and mitigate digital misinformation. The eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) is a widely used tool to measure digital health literacy. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Assess digital health literacy using validated tools like eHEALS. Management
Implement strategies to enhance digital health literacy among populations. Monitoring & Follow-up
Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of digital health literacy interventions. Risks
Address the digital divide to prevent disparities in health care access. Patient & Prescribing Data
Individuals utilizing digital health services in the UK.
Digital health literacy can improve access to health care and enhance health outcomes.
Clinical Best Practices
Promote digital health literacy as a key component of health education. Utilize eHEALS for assessing and improving patient digital health skills. Related Resources & Content
