The Role of Digital Health Literacy in Optimizing Telemedicine and e-Health Applications for Healthcare Accessibility

Authors

  • Fathi Falaah Universitas Airlangga

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61194/jrkpk.v3i2.674

Keywords:

e-Health, Digital Health Literacy, Telemedicine, Health Information-Seeking Behavior, Mobile Health Applications, Healthcare Accessibility, Digital Health Regulation

Abstract

The rapid advancement of e-Health applications has transformed medical information seeking behavior, offering new opportunities for improved healthcare accessibility and patient empowerment. This study systematically reviews the impact of e-Health applications on online medical information seeking behavior, focusing on accessibility, credibility, and user engagement. A comprehensive literature review was conducted using major academic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The findings reveal a substantial increase in the use of digital health platforms, with telemedicine and mobile-Health applications becoming primary sources of medical information. However, concerns regarding digital literacy, misinformation, and data privacy persist. The study highlights the need for enhanced regulatory frameworks, greater involvement of healthcare professionals in e-Health development, and the implementation of educational initiatives to improve-Health literacy. The integration of e-Health applications into national healthcare policies is recommended to optimize their effectiveness and accessibility. Future research should focus on evaluating the long term impacts of e-Health solutions and their role in addressing health disparities. This study contributes to the growing discourse on digital health by emphasizing the importance of policy development and education in maximizing the benefits of e-Health applications.

References

Aref-Adib, G., O’Hanlon, P., Fullarton, K., Morant, N., Sommerlad, A., Johnson, S., & Osborn, D. (2016). A Qualitative Study of Online Mental Health Information Seeking Behaviour by Those With Psychosis. BMC Psychiatry, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-0952-0

Aschbrenner, K. A., Naslund, J. A., Grinley, T., Bienvenida, J. C. M., Bartels, S. J., & Brunette, M. F. (2018). A Survey of Online and Mobile Technology Use at Peer Support Agencies. Psychiatric Quarterly, 89(3), 539–548. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-017-9561-4

Blower, S., Swallow, V., Maturana, C., Stones, S., Phillips, B., Dimitri, P., Marshman, Z., Knapp, P., Dean, A., Higgins, S., Kellar, I., Curtis, P., Mills, N., & Martin‐Kerry, J. (2020). Children and Young People’s Concerns and Needs Relating to Their Use of Health Technology to Self-Manage Long-Term Conditions: A Scoping Review. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 105(11), 1093–1104. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2020-319103

Bougioukas, K. I., Bouras, E., Avgerinos, K., Dardavessis, T., & Haidich, A. (2020). How to Keep Up to Date With Medical Information Using Web‐based Resources: A Systematised Review and Narrative Synthesis. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 37(4), 254–292. https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12318

Brammall, B. R., Hayman, M., & Harrison, C. L. (2024). Pregnancy Mobile App Use: A Survey of Health Information Practices and Quality Awareness Among Pregnant Women in Australia. Women S Health, 20. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057241281236

Cao, B., Zhao, P., Bien, C. H., Pan, S. W., Tang, W., Watson, J. A., Mi, G., Ding, Y., Luo, Z., & Tucker, J. D. (2018). Linking Young Men Who Have Sex With Men (YMSM) to STI Physicians: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey in China. BMC Infectious Diseases, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-018-3145-2

Carter, J., Sandall, J., Shennan, A., & Tribe, R. M. (2019). Mobile Phone Apps for Clinical Decision Support in Pregnancy: A Scoping Review. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-019-0954-1

Dahlhausen, F., Zinner, M., Bieske, L., Ehlers, J. P., Boehme, P., & Fehring, L. (2021). Physicians’ Attitudes Toward Prescribable mHealth Apps and Implications for Adoption in Germany: Mixed Methods Study. Jmir Mhealth and Uhealth, 9(11), e33012. https://doi.org/10.2196/33012

Ebrahimi, N., Mohammadzadeh, N., & Ayyoubzadeh, S. M. (2023). Evaluation of Overweight Control Applications With Cognitive‐behavioral Therapy Approach: A Systematic Review. Health Science Reports, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1157

Espay, A. J., Hausdorff, J. M., Sánchez‐Ferro, Á., Klucken, J., Merola, A., Bonato, P., Paul, S. S., Horak, F. B., Vizcarra, J. A., Mestre, T., Reilmann, R., Nieuwboer, A., Dorsey, E. R., Rochester, L., Bloem, B. R., & Maetzler, W. (2019). A Roadmap for Implementation of Patient‐centered Digital Outcome Measures in Parkinson’s Disease Obtained Using Mobile Health Technologies. Movement Disorders, 34(5), 657–663. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.27671

Fan, Q., Hoang, M.-N., DuBose, L., Ory, M. G., Vennatt, J., Salha, D., Lee, S., & Falohun, T. (2024). The Olera.care Digital Caregiving Assistance Platform for Dementia Caregivers: Preliminary Evaluation Study. Jmir Aging, 7, e55132. https://doi.org/10.2196/55132

Gabarrón, E., Rivera-Romero, O., Miron‐Shatz, T., Grainger, R., & Denecke, K. (2021). Role of Participatory Health Informatics in Detecting and Managing Pandemics: Literature Review. Yearbook of Medical Informatics, 30(01), 200–209. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1726486

Haberer, J. E., Trabin, T., & Klinkman, M. S. (2013). Furthering the Reliable and Valid Measurement of Mental Health Screening, Diagnoses, Treatment and Outcomes Through Health Information Technology. General Hospital Psychiatry, 35(4), 349–353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2013.03.009

Haluza, D., Naszay, M., Stockinger, A., & Jungwirth, D. (2016). Prevailing Opinions on Connected Health in Austria: Results From an Online Survey. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(8), 813. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13080813

Huckvale, K., Prieto, J. T., Tilney, M., Benghozi, P., & Car, J. (2015). Unaddressed Privacy Risks in Accredited Health and Wellness Apps: A Cross-Sectional Systematic Assessment. BMC Medicine, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-015-0444-y

Lupton, D. (2021). Young People’s Use of Digital Health Technologies in the Global North: Narrative Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(1), e18286. https://doi.org/10.2196/18286

Ming, L. C., Untong, N., Aliudin, N. A., Osili, N., Kifli, N., Tan, C. S., Goh, K. W., Ng, P. W., Al‐Worafi, Y. M., Lee, K. S., & Goh, H. P. (2020). Mobile Health Apps on COVID-19 Launched in the Early Days of the Pandemic: Content Analysis and Review. Jmir Mhealth and Uhealth, 8(9), e19796. https://doi.org/10.2196/19796

Murri, R., Segala, F. V, Vecchio, P. D., Cingolani, A., Taddei, E., Micheli, G., & Fantoni, M. (2020). Social Media as a Tool for Scientific Updating at the Time of COVID Pandemic: Results From a National Survey in Italy. Plos One, 15(9), e0238414. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238414

Najm, A., Nikiphorou, E., Kostine, M., Richez, C., Pauling, J. D., Finckh, A., Ritschl, V., Prior, Y., Balážová, P., Stones, S., Szekanecz, Z., Iagnocco, A., Ramiro, S., Sivera, F., Dougados, M., Carmona, L., Burmester, G. R., Wiek, D., Gossec, L., & Bérenbaum, F. (2019). EULAR Points to Consider for the Development, Evaluation and Implementation of Mobile Health Applications Aiding Self-Management in People Living With Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases. RMD Open, 5(2), e001014. https://doi.org/10.1136/rmdopen-2019-001014

Paré, G., Leaver, C., & Bourget, C. (2018). Diffusion of the Digital Health Self-Tracking Movement in Canada: Results of a National Survey. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(5), e177. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.9388

Pires, I. M., Marques, G., García, N. M., Flórez‐Revuelta, F., Ponciano, V., & Oniani, S. (2020). A Research on the Classification and Applicability of the Mobile Health Applications. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 10(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm10010011

Russell, E., Lloyd-Houldey, A., Memon, A., & Yarker, J. (2018). Factors Influencing Uptake and Use of a New Health Information App for Young People. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 36(4), 222–240. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228835.2018.1536911

Senbekov, M., Saliev, T., Bukeyeva, Z., Almabayeva, A., Zhanaliyeva, M., Aitenova, N., Toishibekov, Y. M., & Fakhradiyev, I. (2020). The Recent Progress and Applications of Digital Technologies in Healthcare: A Review. International Journal of Telemedicine and Applications, 2020, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8830200

Shim, C. Y., Chan, S. Y., Wei, Y., Ghani, H., Ahmad, L., Sharif, H., Alikhan, M. F., Bagol, S. H., Taib, S., Tan, C. W., Ong, X. M., Wang, L., Wang, Y., Liu, A. Q., Lim, H. S., Wong, J., Naing, L., & Cunningham, A. C. (2022). Technology-Assisted Adaptive Recruitment Strategy for a Large Nation-Wide COVID-19 Vaccine Immunogenicity Study in Brunei. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.983571

Tafti, E. A., Ghazisaeedi, M., & Sarraf, P. (2023). Stability Monitoring of Patients With Myasthenia Gravis Using a Mobile-Based Application. Current Journal of Neurology. https://doi.org/10.18502/cjn.v22i1.12615

Yang, Y., Tian, C., Cao, J., & Xuejie, H. (2019). Research on the Application of Health Management Model Based on the Perspective of Mobile Health. Medicine, 98(33), e16847. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000016847

Zhang, X., Li, X.-C., Zhang, Q., Liu, J., Han, L., Lederman, Z., Schurer, J. M., Poeta, P., Rahman, Md. T., Li, S., Kassegne, K., Yin, K., Zhu, Y., Xia, S., He, L., Hu, Q., Xiu, L., Xue, J.-B., Zhao, H.-Q., … Zhou, X. (2023). Tackling Global Health Security by Building an Academic Community for One Health Action. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-023-01124-w

Downloads

Published

2024-07-31

Issue

Section

Articles