Assessing the Effects of eHealth Tutorials on Older Adults' eHealth Literacy

J Appl Gerontol. 2022 Jul;41(7):1675-1685. doi: 10.1177/07334648221088281. Epub 2022 Apr 24.

Abstract

eHealth literacy is the ability to access, assess, and use digital health information. This study compared the effects of a multimedia tutorial versus a paper-based control in improving older adults' eHealth literacy from pre- to posttest. A total of 99 community-dwelling older adults (63-90 years old; mean = 73.09) participated from July 2019 to February 2020. Overall, knowledge about computer/Internet terms, eHealth literacy efficacy, knowledge about the quality of health information websites, and procedural skills in computer/Internet use improved significantly from pre- to posttest. No interaction effect was found between time and group. Participants in both groups had an overwhelmingly positive attitude toward training. Their attitudes toward training approached a statistically significant difference between the two conditions: F (1, 89) = 3.75, p = .056, partial η2 = .040, with the multimedia condition showing more positive attitudes. These findings have implications for designing effective eHealth literacy interventions for older adults.

Keywords: attitudes; eHealth literacy; multimedia tutorial; older adults.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Computer Literacy
  • Health Literacy*
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Telemedicine*