Digital health literacy and health technology in health systems and beyond: The importance of measurement, planned action, and policy for readiness and sustainability

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp and distinct increase in the development and application of digital resources for public health and healthcare services. The benefits from this trajectory are dependent upon the digital health literacy skills of the public served. In this article, digital health and digital health literacy are explored, as is the importance of measurement to set the stage for policy, practice, and continued research. Intervention on individual and organization levels are necessary, taking into consideration the social gradient as an underlying determinant of digital health literacy. Future areas of research, policy, and action-based intervention are presented.