Digital Literacy
The ability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate and create information safely and appropriately through digital technologies for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
Digital literacy is the varying abilities of both adults and children to use digital technology. Digital literacy is also the ability to distinguish truth from false information on the internet. Digital literacy affects all other social determinants of health. Technology has become a way people access their health needs. We use systems such as electronic health records and telemedicine. For example, “applications for employment, housing, and other assistance programs, each of which influences an individual’s health, are increasingly, and sometimes exclusively, accessible online” (Sieck, 2021). If patients cannot interpret their virtual medical records, they may miss appointment reminders or important lab results. Also, lacking knowledge of cybersecurity can lead to HIPAA protected information being leaked.
Key Points and Resources
References
Alexander, J. (2023). Digital literacy in healthcare: three key aspects everyone needs to know. VITAL WorkLife. https://insights.vitalworklife.com/digital-literacy-in-healthcare-three-key-aspects-everyone-needs-to-know
Arias López MdP, Ong BA, Borrat Frigola X, Fernández AL, Hicklent RS, et al. (2023) Digital literacy as a new determinant of health: A scoping review. PLOS Digital Health 2(10): e0000279. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000279
DeSalvo, K. (2019). Health information technology meets the social determinants of health. SGIM Forum, 42(8). https://www.sgim.org/File%20Library/SGIM/Resource%20Library/Forum/2019/SGIM-Aug-3.pdf
HIPPA. (2024). What is the HITECH Act. The HIPPA Journal. What is the HITECH Act? 2024 Update (hipaajournal.com)
Kessel, R., Hrzic., O’Nuallain, E., Weir, E., Han Wong, B., Anderson, M., Baron-Cohen, S., Mossialos, E. (2022). Digital health paradox: International policy perspectives to address increased health inequalities for people living with disabilities. J Med Internet Res. 24(2): e33819. doi:10.2196/33819
Richardson, S., Lawrence, K., Schoenthaler, A., Mann, D. (2022). Framework for digital health equity. Npj Digital Medicine, 5, 119. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-022-00663-0
Rural Health Information Hub. Improving digital health literacy. (2002-2023). Health resource and services administration of the U.S department of human services. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/toolkits/health-literacy/2/digital-literacy
Sieck, C. J., Sheon, A., Ancker, J. S., Castek, J., Callahan, B., & Siefer, A. (2021). Digital Inclusion as a social determinant of health. NPJ Digital Medicine. doi:10.1038/s41746-021-00413-8
UNESCO. (2018). Designing Inclusive Solutions and Developing Digital Skills. UNESCO education sector, Pearson. https://cbrhl.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/UNESCO-Designing-Inclusive-Digital-Solutions-2018.pdf
World Health Organization. (2023). Digital health literacy key to overcoming barriers for health workers, WHO study says. https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/18-09-2023-digital-health-literacy-key-to-overcoming-barriers-for-health-workers--who-study-says