High e-health literacy encourages patients to visit medical professionals

Better electronic health (e-health) literacy actively drives young adult patients into doctors' offices rather than replacing professional consultations with self-treatment. This is the conclusion of a new study published in the De Gruyter Brill's journal Open Medicine, titled "e-health literacy, health-seeking behaviors, and perceived ease of use of digital health systems in outpatients."

The study surveyed 847 outpatient adults aged 18–43 at Gazi University Hospital in Ankara, Turkey. The researchers assessed how e-health literacy shape patients' search for remedies and their use of Turkey's national platforms, specifically the Central Physician Appointment System (MHRS) and Personal Health Record System (e-Nabız). Their skills were evaluated using the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), where higher scores reflect greater proficiency.

These results debunk the common assumption that e-health literate patients tend to bypass traditional medicine by self-diagnosing and self-treating. Higher e-health literacy was associated with both doing more online research and more visits to healthcare providers, and e-health literate patients used the internet to prepare for and seek out professional care.

Higher e-health literacy also made patients more likely to find government digital health apps easy to navigate. However, it was not related to traditional health habits, such as seeking home remedies or advice from friends and family, which continue to be driven by close social bonds and cultural traditions.

The study also showed how everyday demographics shape patient choices: women utilize digital and professional health channels more than men, while higher education levels predicted more visits to medical professionals. In contrast, parents were far more likely to lean on home remedies and close personal networks before using e-health sources, and individuals in poorer health experienced greater difficulty navigating online health portals, highlighting how ill-health burdens can compound digital barriers.

The authors of the study underscored the need for targeted e-health literacy interventions, even among digitally engaged younger populations, to promote equitable access to health services and reduce digital disparities.