Digital health literacy among the Spanish population: a descriptive and latent class analysis study

Abstract

Spain has been consolidating the implementation of digital healthcare. However, there is not a comprehensive picture of the digital health literacy of the population in relation to existing policies and practices. To identify different profiles of people by analysing their digital health literacy, with the ultimate goal of providing healthcare organizations with indications to improve the relationship between people and the healthcare system. This cross-sectional survey study included 400 people aged ≥18 years from May 2021 to May 2022 in Spain. Participants were stratified by gender, age range, and residential area mirroring the Spanish population, and were recruited by an online panel and in community settings. A self-administered online survey was used, including the eHLQ questionnaire as a main measure and sociodemographic information. The digital health literacy level was medium and balanced among the seven eHLQ dimensions (ranging from 2.60 to 2.77 out of 5). The latent class analysis revealed five profiles based on the scores of the dimensions of the eHLQ questionnaire and taking into account age, technology use, and educational level. Access to digital services that work, together with using digital technology to process health information, is the main challenge identified by the participants. National health institutions and policies should focus not only on educating and training in digital skills but also on providing reliable and useful digital health services. This is the first study to provide a comprehensive digital health literacy profile of the Spanish population using the eHLQ questionnaire.