Enhancing Digital Health Literacy to Improve Quality of Life: Evidence Based Strategies for Public Health Advancement
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61194/jhlqr.v2i1.535Keywords:
Digital Health Literacy, Ehealth Interventions, Mobile Health, Health Education, Telehealth, Health Behavior, Public HealtAbstract
The increasing reliance on digital health interventions has underscored the need to enhance digital health literacy to improve individual health outcomes and quality of life. This study explores the effectiveness of digital health literacy interventions, including mobile applications, online education platforms, and telehealth services, in improving health knowledge and self-care behaviors. A systematic literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, with selected studies focusing on adult populations and chronic disease management. Findings indicate that digital interventions significantly enhance health literacy and health-related behaviors; however, challenges such as disparities in digital access, socioeconomic factors, and variations in digital literacy levels limit widespread adoption. Comparative analysis reveals that while digital interventions offer advantages in accessibility and engagement, they must be adapted to different demographic and socioeconomic contexts to ensure equity. Policy implications highlight the necessity of investing in digital infrastructure, integrating digital literacy into healthcare education, and implementing data security regulations to foster trust and usability. The study concludes that digital health literacy is a crucial component of modern healthcare strategies. Addressing barriers and optimizing digital intervention designs are essential for maximizing the potential of digital health tools in promoting preventive care and improving public health outcomes. Future research should focus on long-term intervention effectiveness, AI-driven personalization, and culturally inclusive health literacy programs.
References
Aboumatar, H., Pitts, S. I., Sharma, R., Das, A., Smith, B. M., Day, J., Holzhauer, K., Yang, S., Bass, E. B., & Bennett, W. L. (2022). Patient Engagement Strategies for Adults With Chronic Conditions: An Evidence Map. Systematic Reviews, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01873-5
Alias, S. B., Nadal, R., Moral, I., Figuls, M. R. i., Luque, X. R. i., & Coll‐Planas, L. (2021). Promoting Social Capital, Self-Management and Health Literacy in Older Adults Through a Group-Based Intervention Delivered in Low-Income Urban Areas: Results of the Randomized Trial AEQUALIS. BMC Public Health, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-10094-9
Arriaga, M., Francisco, R., Nogueira, P., Oliveira, J., Silva, C., Câmara, G., Sørensen, K., Dietscher, C., & Costa, A. (2022). Health Literacy in Portugal: Results of the Health Literacy Population Survey Project 2019–2021. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 4225. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074225
Beni, Z. H. M., Maasoumi, R., Pashaeypoor, S., & Haghani, S. (2022). The Effects of Self-Care Education Based on the Health Literacy Index on Self-Care and Quality of Life Among Menopausal Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial. BMC Women S Health, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-02007-2
Butler, S., Sculley, D., Santos, D., Fellas, A., Gironès, X., Singh‐Grewal, D., & Coda, A. (2022). Effectiveness of eHealth and mHealth Interventions Supporting Children and Young People Living With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(2), e30457. https://doi.org/10.2196/30457
Christiansen, L., Lindberg, C., Berglund, J., Anderberg, P., & Skär, L. (2020). Using Mobile Health and the Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life: Perceptions of Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(8), 2650. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082650
Du, S., Feng, Z., Wen, W., Tian, L., & Wang, Y. (2022). A Structural Equation Model Linking Health Literacy, Self Efficacy and Quality of Life in Adults With Coronary Heart Disease. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-022-02720-8
Gaffari-fam, S., Lotfi, Y., Daemi, A., Babazadeh, T., Sarbazi, E., Abbasabad, G. D., & Abri, H. (2020). Impact of Health Literacy and Self-Care Behaviors on Health-Related Quality of Life in Iranians With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-020-01613-8
Houlihan, M. C., Mayahara, M., Swanson, B., & Fogg, L. (2021). A Review of Clinical Trials of Advance Care Planning Interventions Adapted for Limited Health Literacy. Palliative & Supportive Care, 20(4), 593–599. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1478951521001152
Hwang, B., Pelter, M. M., Moser, D. K., & Dracup, K. (2020). Effects of an Educational Intervention on Heart Failure Knowledge, Self-Care Behaviors, and Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients With Heart Failure: Exploring the Role of Depression. Patient Education and Counseling, 103(6), 1201–1208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2020.01.007
Jung, S. O., Son, Y. H., & Choi, E. (2022). E-Health Literacy in Older Adults: An Evolutionary Concept Analysis. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-022-01761-5
Lee, G. Y., Hickie, I. B., Occhipinti, J., Song, Y. J. C., Camacho, S., Skinner, A., Lawson, K., Hockey, S. J., Hilber, A. M., & Freebairn, L. (2022). Participatory Systems Modelling for Youth Mental Health: An Evaluation Study Applying a Comprehensive Multi-Scale Framework. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 4015. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074015
Lee, H., Lim, J. A., & Nam, H. K. (2022). Effect of a Digital Literacy Program on Older Adults’ Digital Social Behavior: A Quasi-Experimental Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12404. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912404
Li, S., Cui, G., Kaminga, A. C., Cheng, S., & Xu, H. (2021). Associations Between Health Literacy, eHealth Literacy, and COVID-19–Related Health Behaviors Among Chinese College Students: Cross-Sectional Online Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(5), e25600. https://doi.org/10.2196/25600
Panagioti, M., Skevington, S. M., Hann, M., Howells, K., Blakemore, A., Reeves, D., & Bower, P. (2018). Effect of Health Literacy on the Quality of Life of Older Patients With Long-Term Conditions: A Large Cohort Study in UK General Practice. Quality of Life Research, 27(5), 1257–1268. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-017-1775-2
Parker, S., Barr, M., Stocks, N., Denney‐Wilson, E., Zwar, N., Karnon, J., Kabir, A., Nutbeam, D., Roseleur, J., Liaw, S., McNamara, C., Frank, O., Tran, A., Osborne, R. H., Lau, A., & Harris, M. (2022). Preventing Chronic Disease in Overweight and Obese Patients With Low Health Literacy Using eHealth and Teamwork in Primary Healthcare (HeLP-GP): A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial. BMJ Open, 12(11), e060393. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060393
Parker, S., Stocks, N., Nutbeam, D., Thomas, L., Denney‐Wilson, E., Zwar, N., Karnon, J., Lloyd, J., Noakes, M., Liaw, S., Lau, A., Osborne, R. H., & Harris, M. (2018). Preventing Chronic Disease in Patients With Low Health Literacy Using eHealth and Teamwork in Primary Healthcare: Protocol for a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial. BMJ Open, 8(6), e023239. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023239
Vilela, S. R., Leão-Cordeiro, J. A. B., Moraes, K. L., Suzuki, K., Brasil, V. V, & Silva, A. M. T. C. (2022). Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Lay People: Evaluation of Videos From the Perspective of Digital Health Literacy. Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 30. https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.5623.3542
Visscher, B. B., Steunenberg, B., Heijmans, M., Hofstede, J., Devillé, W. L. J. M., Heide, I. v. d., & Rademakers, J. (2018). Evidence on the Effectiveness of Health Literacy Interventions in the EU: A Systematic Review. BMC Public Health, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6331-7
Xu, R. H., Zhou, L., Wong, E. L., & Wang, D. (2021). The Association Between Patients’ eHealth Literacy and Satisfaction With Shared Decision-Making and Well-Being: Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(9), e26721. https://doi.org/10.2196/26721
Zipprich, H. M., Mendorf, S., Schönenberg, A., & Prell, T. (2021). The Impact of Poor Medication Knowledge on Health-Related Quality of Life in People With Parkinson’s Disease: A Mediation Analysis. Quality of Life Research, 31(5), 1473–1482. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-021-03024-8
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmad Yani, Multy Nirwan, Fadly Umar, Indra Afriyanto
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
