Patient factors and eHealth literacy on digital health acceptability

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Influence of patient factors and eHealth literacy level on the delivery of surgical information using digital technology

• IRAS ID

  303858

• Contact name

  Emma Carrington

• Contact email

  emma.carrington@imperial.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Imperial College London

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 6 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  It has been demonstrated that the acceptability and utility of ehealth technologies are associated with different patient characteristics. However, there is a paucity of literature that explores the interaction between patients’ experience in digital technologies and their eHealth literacy levels. Although digital health technologies can improve quality of information delivery, facilitate effective communication during surgical consultations, we need to understand patients’ ehealth literacy, to ensure their use is appropriately tailored and their impact optimised. This is especially urgent since the COVID-19 global pandemic where healthcare providers are rapidly implementing their use, often without sufficient evidence around patient acceptability or understanding, and risk exacerbating health inequalities from digital exclusion.
  We will be gathering information in each stage from patients

  The goal of the questionnaire is to explore the relationships between patient factors, the experience of digital technology and the usage of eHealth in gathering health information.

  The goal of the focus groups is to hear about patients' views on using digital technology to communicate and receive health information during surgical care. Concepts for focus group questions include:
  What is your experience of surgical consultations and communications in the peri and postoperative period ?
  What is your opinion on using digital technologies in surgical care?
  What is your view on the quality of the information received through traditional methods and using ehealth technologies?
  What practical changes could be made to support you in receiving information during the perioperative period?
  What are the barriers to the adoption of ehealth? e.g. trust, security, cultural factors, motivation, and perceived benefit
  What is the impact of the COVID pandemic on your perception and utility of technology and health?

  The goal of the eHealth literacy assessment is to better understand the digital health competency level of patients using a validated questionnaire and gather opinions on the usability of the questionnaire.

• REC name

  East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  21/EM/0268

• Date of REC Opinion

  14 Dec 2021

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion