Health literacy among older adults and their interactions with digital health communication systems: A convergent mixed methods study

To examine health literacy among adults aged 65 and older in the context of their interactions with digital health communication systems, focusing on their abilities to access, understand, appraise, and apply health information. The study employed a convergent mixed-methods design. The sample consisted of 388 older adults residing in the Bandırma/Türkiye, selected using convenience sampling. The study utilized the Turkish adaptation of the Health Literacy Scale. Quantitative data were analyzed using non-parametric tests. Qualitative data were collected using a semi-structured interview form and analyzed using content analysis. Older adults who could schedule their own appointments, book appointments online, use e-Nabız, and preferred the internet as a source of information had higher health literacy scores compared to other groups. Older adults questioned the information they obtained from digital sources and verified it through healthcare professionals and official sources, but occasionally struggled to understand the information and experienced confusion due to information overload. It was determined that access to digital health communication systems alone was not sufficient for older adults; a multidimensional competence encompassing the skills of understanding, appraising, and verifying the information obtained was also required. The findings indicated that health education programmes for older adults should target not only the use of digital tools but also the development of these appraisal and verification skills.