Strategies for Promoting Digital Health Literacy A scoping review

Nowadays information technologies are an important source for health information and health utilization. Use of this route needs a special skill and knowledge which is referred to as digital health literacy. It is estimated that most of the communities lack this capacity. Promoting digital health literacy in this regard should be one of the priorities of health systems.

In this scoping review, Persian and English literature was searched with specific keywords including “digital health” or “electronic health” in past 10 years, and articles which presented specific solutions for promoting digital health literacy, were summarized.

The following strategies were suggested for improving digital health literacy. Increasing social trust to digital health, multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral governance planning, timely financing based on priorities, comprehensive digital services, active presence in the social media supported by heath system, stewardship of ministries of health and medical education on digital health and digital health literacy, collaboration with nongovernmental organizations and charities in capacity building for digital literacy.

Digital health consider as an important tool for improving the health of community and access to universal health coverage. These mandates increasing digital health literacy which could be achieved through targeted plans and by community participation.