Everyday Digital Literacy Questionnaire for Older Adults: Instrument Development and Validation Study
BackgroundThe need for digital literacy in aging populations is increasing in the digitalizing society. Digital literacy involves the identification, evaluation, and communication of information through various digital devices or relevant programs. ObjectiveThe ai...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e51616 |
| _version_ | 1797391246934671360 |
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| author | JiYeon Choi Seongmi Choi Kijun Song Jiwon Baek Heejung Kim Mona Choi Yesol Kim Sang Hui Chu Jiyoung Shin |
| author_facet | JiYeon Choi Seongmi Choi Kijun Song Jiwon Baek Heejung Kim Mona Choi Yesol Kim Sang Hui Chu Jiyoung Shin |
| author_sort | JiYeon Choi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundThe need for digital literacy in aging populations is increasing in the digitalizing society. Digital literacy involves the identification, evaluation, and communication of information through various digital devices or relevant programs.
ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to develop an Everyday Digital Literacy Questionnaire (EDLQ), a digital literacy assessment scale, and subsequently evaluate its psychometric properties using a population of community-dwelling older adults in South Korea.
MethodsThe EDLQ was developed using an instrument development design. A nationwide survey was conducted, and the study included 1016 community-dwelling older adults (age ≥60 years). To evaluate the psychometric properties, the participants were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=508 each), and the internal consistency (Cronbach α and McDonald ω), structural validity (exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis), hypothesis-testing construct validity using the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), and measurement invariance were analyzed.
ResultsAmong the initial 30 items of the EDLQ, 22 items with a 3-factor solution had a total explained variance of 77%. The domains included “information and communication” (9 items), “content creation and management” (4 items), and “safety and security” (9 items). Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with this 3-factor solution (χ2206=345.1; normed χ2206=1.7; comparative fit index=0.997; Tucker-Lewis index=0.997; root-mean-square error of approximation=0.036; standardized root-mean-square residual=0.050; composite reliability=0.903-0.959; average variance extracted=0.699-0.724; R2=0.616-0.773). Hypothesis-testing construct validity with the eHEALS revealed a strong correlation (r=0.75). Cronbach α and McDonald ω coefficients were .98 and 0.98, respectively. The fit indices for measurement invariance, including the configural, metric, and scalar invariance models, demonstrated a satisfactory fit to the data. Our findings suggest that the psychometric properties of the 22-item EDLQ are valid and reliable for assessing digital literacy among older Korean adults.
ConclusionsIn this study, we developed a digital literacy measure with strong psychometric properties that made it suitable for assessing the digital literacy of community-dwelling older adults in Korea. To broaden its applicability, however, further assessment of its feasibility for use with different languages and cultures is necessary. Moreover, more empirical research on digital literacy and related factors in older adults can facilitate the development of personalized digital health care services and educational interventions in the digital society. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:30:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ceb11bc9defc43198db7d029aee282ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:30:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-ceb11bc9defc43198db7d029aee282ce2023-12-14T16:00:47ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712023-12-0125e5161610.2196/51616Everyday Digital Literacy Questionnaire for Older Adults: Instrument Development and Validation StudyJiYeon Choihttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1947-7952Seongmi Choihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0988-9307Kijun Songhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2505-4112Jiwon Baekhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4937-456XHeejung Kimhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3719-0111Mona Choihttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4694-0359Yesol Kimhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3540-1723Sang Hui Chuhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6877-5599Jiyoung Shinhttps://orcid.org/0009-0003-6279-1047 BackgroundThe need for digital literacy in aging populations is increasing in the digitalizing society. Digital literacy involves the identification, evaluation, and communication of information through various digital devices or relevant programs. ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to develop an Everyday Digital Literacy Questionnaire (EDLQ), a digital literacy assessment scale, and subsequently evaluate its psychometric properties using a population of community-dwelling older adults in South Korea. MethodsThe EDLQ was developed using an instrument development design. A nationwide survey was conducted, and the study included 1016 community-dwelling older adults (age ≥60 years). To evaluate the psychometric properties, the participants were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=508 each), and the internal consistency (Cronbach α and McDonald ω), structural validity (exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis), hypothesis-testing construct validity using the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), and measurement invariance were analyzed. ResultsAmong the initial 30 items of the EDLQ, 22 items with a 3-factor solution had a total explained variance of 77%. The domains included “information and communication” (9 items), “content creation and management” (4 items), and “safety and security” (9 items). Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted with this 3-factor solution (χ2206=345.1; normed χ2206=1.7; comparative fit index=0.997; Tucker-Lewis index=0.997; root-mean-square error of approximation=0.036; standardized root-mean-square residual=0.050; composite reliability=0.903-0.959; average variance extracted=0.699-0.724; R2=0.616-0.773). Hypothesis-testing construct validity with the eHEALS revealed a strong correlation (r=0.75). Cronbach α and McDonald ω coefficients were .98 and 0.98, respectively. The fit indices for measurement invariance, including the configural, metric, and scalar invariance models, demonstrated a satisfactory fit to the data. Our findings suggest that the psychometric properties of the 22-item EDLQ are valid and reliable for assessing digital literacy among older Korean adults. ConclusionsIn this study, we developed a digital literacy measure with strong psychometric properties that made it suitable for assessing the digital literacy of community-dwelling older adults in Korea. To broaden its applicability, however, further assessment of its feasibility for use with different languages and cultures is necessary. Moreover, more empirical research on digital literacy and related factors in older adults can facilitate the development of personalized digital health care services and educational interventions in the digital society.https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e51616 |
| spellingShingle | JiYeon Choi Seongmi Choi Kijun Song Jiwon Baek Heejung Kim Mona Choi Yesol Kim Sang Hui Chu Jiyoung Shin Everyday Digital Literacy Questionnaire for Older Adults: Instrument Development and Validation Study Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Everyday Digital Literacy Questionnaire for Older Adults: Instrument Development and Validation Study |
| title_full | Everyday Digital Literacy Questionnaire for Older Adults: Instrument Development and Validation Study |
| title_fullStr | Everyday Digital Literacy Questionnaire for Older Adults: Instrument Development and Validation Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Everyday Digital Literacy Questionnaire for Older Adults: Instrument Development and Validation Study |
| title_short | Everyday Digital Literacy Questionnaire for Older Adults: Instrument Development and Validation Study |
| title_sort | everyday digital literacy questionnaire for older adults instrument development and validation study |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e51616 |
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