eHealth Literacy, Online Help-Seeking Behavior, and Willingness to Participate in mHealth Chronic Disease Research Among African Americans, Florida, 2014–2015

Abstract

IntroductionThe high rate of ownership of smartphones among African Americans provides researchers with opportunities to use digital technologies to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases in this population. This study aimed to assess the association between eHealth literacy (EHL) and access to technology, health information–seeking behavior, and willingness to participate in mHealth (mobile health) research among African Americans.MethodsA self-administered questionnaire was completed by 881 African American adults from April 2014 to January 2015 in north central Florida. EHL was assessed by using the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) with higher scores (range, 8–40) indicating greater perceived skills at using online health information to help solve health problems.ResultsOverall eHEALS scores ranged from 8 to 40, with a mean of 30.4 (standard deviation, 7.8). The highest score was for the item “I know how to find helpful health resources on the Internet,” and the lowest score was for “I can tell high quality from low quality health resources on the Internet.” Most respondents owned smartphones (71%) and searched online for health information (60%). Most were also willing to participate in health research that used text messages (67%), smartwatches/health tracking devices (62%), and health apps (57%). We found significantly higher eHEALS scores among women, smartphone owners, those who use the Internet to seek health information, and those willing to participate in mHealth research (P < .01 for all).ConclusionMost participants owned smartphones, used the Internet as a source of information, and were willing to participate in mHealth research. Opportunities exist for improving EHL and conducting mHealth research among African Americans to reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases.

Factors affecting seeking health-related information through the internet among patients in Kuwait

“…This goes with the finding of James and Harville who reported that women, and smartphone owners were those who used the Internet as a source of health information. 23 The present study showed that there was a direct relation between the increased level of education and online health information seeking. There is a complex relationship between the quality of health and education that need to be considered by policy-makers and practitioners to eradicate myths and support people with lower level of education and knowledge.…”

mHealth Intervention Promoting Cardiovascular Health Among African-Americans: Recruitment and Baseline Characteristics of a Pilot Study

“…Our investment of resources in face-to-face engagement through kickoff events was important to this community and enhanced transparency and mutual understanding of the intervention goals. Consistent with prior studies of AA adults [ 2 , 6 ], nearly all of our participants reported use of mobile technology (specifically, a high usage of smartphones), a desire to have access to Internet-based health information, and demonstrated high EHL; these factors likely facilitated their enrollment.…”

Health Information Obtained From the Internet and Changes in Medical Decision Making: Questionnaire Development and Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Patients with the strategy of nononline formal medical help-seeking when encountering medical problems tended to consider online health information as a supplement to their further consultation with others. Studies have shown that the patients with greater intention to seek medical help from professional resources, for example, physicians, are more likely to have higher levels of health literacy [ 28 ], and patients seeking online formal medical help are more likely to have higher levels of eHealth literacy [ 29 ]. Suka and colleagues also reported that health literacy was positively associated with help-seeking intentions, and a majority of the study participants chose to seek help at any time from formal resources [ 30 ].…”