Executive summary
Digital health literacy comprises the ability to find, understand, and apply health information, and to manage one’s own health by using electronic tools and information sources. Digital health literacy is a foundational element of successful health care transformation and increasingly important to patients, caregivers, and the public.
This toolkit compiles international learnings and practices to support the advancement of public digital health literacy. Developed by the Clinical and Human Engagement work stream of the Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP), it is intended for anyone seeking to:
- Develop or procure resources to build digital health literacy skills among the general public
- Contextualize their existing digital health literacy work within the international landscape
- Understand the evolving definitions, impacts, and implications of digital health literacy.
This toolkit contains five modules. The toolkit can be downloaded in full, or as individual modules.
Module 1: Introduction
While there is increased recognition of the importance of digital health literacy, there is no universal definition of it. This module traces the development of the digital health literacy concept and provides background to the development of this toolkit.
In This Module:
- Background to this Work
- Development of the Digital Health Literacy Concept
- Definition of Digital Health Literacy
- Objectives and Scope of Work
Module 2: GDHP Digital Health Literacy Survey Findings
In early 2022, the Clinical and Consumer Engagement work stream surveyed GDHP members to understand the international digital health literacy landscape and identify priority areas for action. This module presents the survey’s findings and discusses their implications for this work.
In This Module:
- Survey Overview
- Survey Findings
- Discussion
- Implications for the Clinical and Human Engagement Work Stream
- Copy of the Digital Health Literacy Survey
Module 3: Case Examples
Based on education priority areas identified in the GDHP Digital Health Literacy Survey, the Clinical and Human Engagement Work Stream conducted interviews with three countries about digital health literacy resources they had developed. General themes included:
- Process and resourcing
- Patient engagement
- Outcomes and learnings
In This Module:
- Background
- Australia – My Health Record eLearning Modules
- Canada – Digital Health Learning Program
- Hong Kong – HA GO Website
Module 4: Checklists and Considerations
Based on education priority areas identified in the GDHP Digital Health Literacy Survey, the Clinical and Human Engagement Work Stream conducted interviews with three countries about digital health literacy resources they had developed. General themes included:
- Process and resourcing
- Patient engagement
- Outcomes and learnings
In This Module:
- Background
- Australia – My Health Record eLearning Modules
- Canada – Digital Health Learning Program
- Hong Kong – HA GO Website
Module 5: Collection of Digital Health Literacy Resources
This module contains a collection of digital health literacy resources from GDHP member countries. Each entry includes:
- A link to the resource
- Its format
- A brief description
- Intended audience(s)
- Additional notes
In This Module:
- Collection of Digital Health Literacy Resources