1. Testing Measurement Properties of the Norwegian Version of Electronic Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS) in a Group of Day Surgery Patients
- Author
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Dale, Jan Gunnar, Lüthi, Alexander, Fundingsland Skaraas, Beate, Rundereim, Trude, and Dale, Bjørg
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VDP::Medisinske Fag: 700::Helsefag: 800 ,Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare ,internal consistency ,screening tool ,internet ,health literacy ,factor structure ,Original Research - Abstract
Jan Gunnar Dale, 1 Alexander Lüthi, 2 Beate Fundingsland Skaraas, 3 Trude Rundereim, 4 Bjørg Dale 5 1University of Agder, Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Grimstad NO-4898, Norway; 2Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Postoperative Unit, Oslo NO-0440, Norway; 3Municipality of Hå, Health and Social Services, Nærbø NO-4365, Norway; 4Municipality of Kinn, Måløy NO-6701, Norway; 5Centre for Care Research, Southern Norway, University of Agder, Grimstad NO-4898, NorwayCorrespondence: Jan Gunnar DaleUniversity of Agder, Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Post Box 509, Grimstad NO-4898, NorwayTel +47 37 23 37 31Email jan.g.dale@uia.noBackground and Aim: In order to assess patients’ ability to search, understand, and benefit from Internet-based information, several screening tools have been developed. One of these tools, which has been widely used, is the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). The aim of this study was to examine the measurement properties of the Norwegian version of the eHEALS, as it was used in a group of patients undergoing day surgery.Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among 119 patients scheduled for day surgical treatment in a Norwegian hospital. The questionnaire included the screening tool eHEALS, which contains 8 items for assessing a person’s information awareness skills, information seeking skills, and skills to evaluate and act based on the information. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients and item-total correlations were assessed for estimating reliability of the eHEALS. Exploratory factor analysis with Oblimin rotation was used for assessing the validity of the scale. Eigenvalue was set to 1.0.Results: A Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.89 for the total scale, values > 0.82 for Alpha if Item Deleted, and moderate to high item-total correlations supported the homogeneity and internal consistency of the scale. A two-component solution explained a total of 74.8% of the variance, with the first component explaining 59.53% of the variance in the scale and included the items reflecting information awareness and seeking. The second component explained 15.23% of the variance, including items reflecting the ability to evaluate and act.Conclusion: The reliability of the Norwegian version of eHEALS, used in a group of patients undergoing day surgery, was good. The internal structure, with two distinct factors, is in line with several previous studies. The eHEALS appears to be an appropriate tool for assessing eHealth literacy among this patient group.Keywords: factor structure, health literacy, internet, internal consistency, screening tool
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- 2020