Promoting digital health literacy in disadvantaged life situations through community-oriented approaches: results of a workshop

Abstract

Background: The digital transformation is influencing prevention and health promotion, especially for people in disadvantaged circumstances. Digital health literacy is necessary in order to identify, understand, assess, and use health-related information in relation to digital applications and information services. Target group-oriented offers to promote digital health literacy among disadvantaged population groups are rare. The aim of the workshop during the 58th annual conference of the German Society for Social Medicine and Prevention (DGSMP) was to identify challenges and potentials of promoting digital health literacy among disadvantaged groups and to discuss interdisciplinary approaches. Methods: The workshop combined interactive methods such as a change of perspective and a future workshop in order to develop different perspectives and approaches to solutions. Participants from different specialist areas discussed specific challenges for different target groups using problem-based example scenarios. Results: For people with intellectual disabilities, the need to adapt digital services to their abilities and to develop simple, accessible platforms became apparent. For older people and people requiring care, ethical issues and the need to make technology understandable were discussed. For children and adolescents, the urgency of integrating media literacy into everyday school life to counteract misinformation and promote healthy choices was highlighted. The discussions emphasized the importance of specific measures tailored to the respective target group. Conclusions: A community-oriented approach that addresses people in their specific life contexts was highlighted as effective. The results underline the need to design digital health services and skills development for specific target groups. Further research and practical testing of concepts that integrate both digital and face-to-face elements is needed to effectively strengthen health literacy and adequately support all population groups.