Electronic health literacy among baby boomers: a typology

Sudbury-Riley, Lynn ORCID: 0000-0001-5097-3407, FitzPatrick, Mary, Schulz, Peter J and Hess, Alexandra (2024) Electronic health literacy among baby boomers: a typology. Health Literacy Research and Practice, 8 (1). e3-e11.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/24748307-20231213-02

Abstract

<h4>Background</h4>Forecasts suggest that older adults will place unprecedented demands on future health care systems. Electronic health (eHealth) resources can potentially mitigate some pressures, but to be effective patients need to be able to use them. The negative relationship between eHealth literacy and age usually results in older adults classified as one homogenous mass, which misses the opportunity to tailor interventions.<h4>Objective</h4>This research examines similarities and differences within the baby boom cohort among a sample that uses the internet for health information.<h4>Methods</h4>We used an electronic survey with random samples of baby boomers (<i>N</i> = 996) from the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.<h4>Key results</h4>Four distinct subgroups, or segments, emerged. While not different from a socioeconomic perspective, these four groups have very different levels of eHealth literacy and corresponding health behaviors. Therefore, we contribute a more complex picture than is usually presented in eHealth studies.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Resulting insights offer a useful starting point for providers wishing to better tailor health products, services, and communications to this large cohort of future older individuals. [<b><i>HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice</i>. 2024;8(1):e3-e11.</b>].

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Communication, Health Behavior, Electronics, Aged, Health Resources, Health Literacy
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Management
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	04 Sep 2023 08:25
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2024 15:57
DOI:	10.3928/24748307-20231213-02
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3172490