Validation of eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) on Sri Lankan population of working age

Nilani Gunasekara,Mahesh Fernando

doi:10.4038/sljm.v29i2.166

Nilani Gunasekara, Mahesh Fernando

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4038/sljm.v29i2.166

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Abstract

Background: Electronic Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS) is a unidimensional measure defined by Norman and Skinner in 2006 that measures a person’s ability to understand and use health information through electronic sources. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the validity of eHEALS for working age employees in Sri Lanka. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among managers and senior working age employees using a self-administrated eHEALS questionnaire. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to identify the behaviour of various eHEALS scales. Results: Of 411 questionnaires distributed, 286 responses were returned. The results fit into a 2-factor model, indicating the division of eHEALS scales into 2 subscales with 64.493% of total variance. The factors were labelled as “Information Seeking” (eHEALS1-eHEALS5) and “Information Appraisal” (eHEALS6-eHEALS8) with internal consistency of 0.902 and 0.822 respectively. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis for the organization of 8 questions demonstrates high indices [minimum discrepancy per degree of freedom (CMIN/DF) = 2.215, goodness-of-fit index (GFI) = 0.969, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.985, root mean squared error approximation (RMSEA) = 0.065)] and assures the convergent validity of eHEALS [(average variance extracted (AVE) values>0.5]. Conclusions: eHEALS is multidimensional as such that the first five questions and next three questions separately evaluate two dimensions of electronic health literacy of working age employees.

Highlights

The continuous improvement and diffusion of medical knowledge has steered the populace to grasp that medicine alone cannot address health condition disparities among people [1]
The use of health-related material on the internet has become popular among different segments in society while coining the term ‘electronic health literacy’
Electronic health literacy is initially delineated as the “ability to seek, find, understand, and appraise health information from electronic sources and apply

Summary

Introduction

The continuous improvement and diffusion of medical knowledge has steered the populace to grasp that medicine alone cannot address health condition disparities among people [1]. This apprehension has shifted the accountability for one’s own health, to oneself through healthy living. Electronic health literacy is initially delineated as the “ability to seek, find, understand, and appraise health information from electronic sources and apply. Electronic Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS) is a unidimensional measure defined by Norman and Skinner in 2006 that measures a person’s ability to understand and use health information through electronic sources

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion