eHealth Literacy: Extending the Digital Divide to the Realm of Health Information

eHealth literacy is defined as the ability of people to use emerging information and communications technologies to improve or enable health and health care.

The goal of this study was to explore whether literacy disparities are diminished or enhanced in the search for health information on the Internet. The study focused on (1) traditional digital divide variables, such as sociodemographic characteristics, digital access, and digital literacy, (2) information search processes, and (3) the outcomes of Internet use for health information purposes.