Evaluating E-Health Use by Primary Care Providers in a Medically Underserved Clinic

Abstract

Background: Low health literacy is linked to poor health behaviors and ineffective management of chronic diseases. The use of eHealth improves health access through technology (i.e., cell phones, internet, etc.) and is now becoming a plausible option for medically underserved rural populations to improve health literacy. Objective: Identifying primary care providers' baseline knowledge and self-efficacy about health literacy, eHealth literacy, screening methods, and intent to change and use eHealth applications to improve overall health literacy scores in medically underserved populations. Design: Using quantitative methodology, a 25-item Likert-type survey was used to explore primary care providers' knowledge and self-efficacy about health literacy, e-Health literacy, and screening and use of e-Health applications. Setting: A critically low access medical facility, in a rural and medically underserved area. Participants: Five health care providers. Measurements: The survey responses and open ended question responses were analyzed by finding the mode through content analysis. Results: The providers demonstrated high self-efficacy scores and moderately high health literacy and e-Health scores, indicating positive opinions on e-Health use. Conclusion: Primary care providers have the opportunity to serve as a main model for change and creating new avenues for e-Health success. Embracing the possibilities that e-Health can provide, especially in rural, or high risk populations can further efforts to provide lasting quality health care.