E-Health Literacy and Health Seeking Behavior in the Elderly

The Effect of Educational Intervention on Digital Health Service Use in the Elderly on E-Health Literacy and Health Seeking Behavior: Randomized Controlled Study

The purpose of this clinical trial is to determine the effect of an educational intervention on the use of digital health services for elderly individuals on e-health literacy and health seeking behavior.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

H 0 : There is no difference in terms of the total score of the e-health literacy scale.

H 0 : There is no difference in terms of the total score of the health seeking behavior scale.

The control group will continue their routine life. The researchers will conduct a 4-week intervention for the intervention group participants.

Technology Use Basic Information Training, MHRS and e-pulse Systems Usage Training Health literacy, mobile health application usage training Counseling Applications will be made at the end of the training.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Health Services, Geriatric
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Education

Detailed Description

Electronic health (eHealth) is the use of information and communication technology in support of health and health-related areas and is increasingly integrated into health resources and service delivery (WHO, 2019). The World Health Organization (WHO) also recognizes that digital technologies have the potential to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by improving health services (WHO, 2021). However, not everyone has sufficient access or skills to use digital technology to benefit from the benefits of eHealth. This situation cannot be ignored, especially for the elderly, who are a vulnerable group (Chang et al., 2021). Elderly health and reducing health inequalities are important issues among the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (UNDP, 2023). In order to minimize inequalities, it is very important for the individual to adapt to the innovations of the age and develop technology use skills. (Akyazı, 2018; Tuna Uysal, 2020).

The sample size was determined by Power analysis. The sample was calculated as 29 elderly individuals for each group with a power of 90%, with an effect size of 0.88 in an experimental study (Xie 2011). Considering the 10% loss probability for the study group, the sample was determined as 32 for each group (experimental and control). Before randomization, elderly individuals who meet the inclusion criteria will be given general information about the study, their informed consent will be obtained for participation in the study, and a pre-test will be administered. Then, the block randomization method will be used for randomization, and opaque envelopes will be given by an independent researcher to conceal the assignment.

At the end of the study, the training given to the experimental group will also be given to the control group.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 64
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Konya, Turkey
    • Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

At least literate Having a smart phone Elderly individuals aged 60 and over Having internet access at home or at work

Exclusion Criteria:

Illiterate Not having a smart phone Individuals under the age of 60 Not having internet access at home or at work

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control; Elderly people will continue to receive routine care at the family health center.
Experimental: Intervention; The group in which the intervention was made	Other: Education; The researchers will conduct a 4-week intervention for the intervention group participants. Technology Use Basic Information Training, MHRS and e-pulse Systems Usage Training Health literacy, mobile health application usage training Counseling Applications will be made at the end of the training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Total score of e-health literacy scale	There are 8 items measuring users' knowledge, comfort and perceived skills in finding, evaluating and applying electronic health information regarding e-health problems. A 5-point Likert-type measurement is used to evaluate the items. The total score varies between 8 and 40, and higher scores indicate higher perceived skills in finding, evaluating and applying e-health information to make health decisions.	pre-test in the first meeting, posttest 4 weeks after registration

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Health Seeking Behavior Scale total score	The scale consists of 3 dimensions and 12 items: online health seeking (6 items), professional health seeking (3 items), and traditional health seeking (3 items). The items in the scale were measured with 5-point Likert-type scale options (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). The minimum and maximum scores that can be obtained from the scale are 12 and 60, respectively. Higher scores represent better health seeking behavior.	pre-test in the first meeting, posttest 4 weeks after registration

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Necmettin Erbakan University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: ZEYNEP SAÇIKARA, https://www.erbakan.edu.tr/hemsirelikfak

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 7, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 5, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 10, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 2, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 4, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 8, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 11, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 10, 2024
• Last Verified: December 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: elderly; Health-seeking behavior; eHealth Literacy; Digital Healthcare Service
• Other Study ID Numbers: 16979

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No