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Background <p>Electronic health (e-health) literacy is essential for navigating digital health information and making informed health decisions. Data on e-health literacy are limited in Kerala. This study aimed to determine the level of electronic health literacy, associated factors, and its correlation with NCD risk factors.</p> Methodology <p>We conducted this community-based cross-sectional study among 360 adults aged 18–60 years (males 45%) in urban and rural areas of two selected districts in Kerala using multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the e-health literacy scale (eHEALS) and selected World Health Organization (WHO) STEPS-questions. Log-binomial regression identified factors associated with e-health literacy, and Spearman’s rank correlation examined its association with NCD risk factors.</p> Results <p>The mean (SD) eHEALS score was 25.5 (7.29), and the median (IQR) was 28 (20–32). Participants aged below 39 years (adjusted prevalence ratio[APR] = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.05–1.57), with graduate-level education or higher (APR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.10–1.61), and being never married (APR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.04–1.53) were more likely to have sufficient e-health literacy compared to their counterparts. Majority of the participants (56.9%, <i>n</i> = 209) had up to two NCD risk factors, while 43.1% (<i>n</i> = 155) had three or more. A negative correlation was observed between e-health literacy score and the number of NCD risk factors (rho = − 0.124; <i>p</i> = 0.018).</p> Conclusion <p>The findings suggest that e-health literacy is associated with NCD risk factors, although the observed correlation is statistically significant but weak. Enhancing e-health literacy among older adults, those with lower education, and married individuals may be associated with reduced NCD risk factors.</p>

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Electronic health literacy, associated factors, and its correlation with non-communicable disease risk factors in Kerala, India: a cross-sectional study

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月16日

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  • Adithya Surendran,
  • Paul T. Francis,
  • Jeby Jose Olickal,
  • Kavumpurathu Raman Thankappan

摘要

Background

Electronic health (e-health) literacy is essential for navigating digital health information and making informed health decisions. Data on e-health literacy are limited in Kerala. This study aimed to determine the level of electronic health literacy, associated factors, and its correlation with NCD risk factors.

Methodology

We conducted this community-based cross-sectional study among 360 adults aged 18–60 years (males 45%) in urban and rural areas of two selected districts in Kerala using multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the e-health literacy scale (eHEALS) and selected World Health Organization (WHO) STEPS-questions. Log-binomial regression identified factors associated with e-health literacy, and Spearman’s rank correlation examined its association with NCD risk factors.

Results

The mean (SD) eHEALS score was 25.5 (7.29), and the median (IQR) was 28 (20–32). Participants aged below 39 years (adjusted prevalence ratio[APR] = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.05–1.57), with graduate-level education or higher (APR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.10–1.61), and being never married (APR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.04–1.53) were more likely to have sufficient e-health literacy compared to their counterparts. Majority of the participants (56.9%, n = 209) had up to two NCD risk factors, while 43.1% (n = 155) had three or more. A negative correlation was observed between e-health literacy score and the number of NCD risk factors (rho = − 0.124; p = 0.018).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that e-health literacy is associated with NCD risk factors, although the observed correlation is statistically significant but weak. Enhancing e-health literacy among older adults, those with lower education, and married individuals may be associated with reduced NCD risk factors.