Frontiers in digital health · 2026
Understanding digital health literacy in the arab world: a study of arab adults with diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis residing in Qatar.
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Zaghloul Hadeel, Ahdab Fares, Tag Zahir, Varghese Sanish, Arabi Batoul, Al-Ani Minatullah, Abdullah Aya, Omar Sara, Arabi Maryam, Ahmed Lina, Mahmoud Shadi, Zaghlool Shaza, Alebbi Seham, Al-Emadi Samar, Arayssi Thurayya
Аннотация
INTRODUCTION: Digital health literacy (DHL)- the ability to access, understand, evaluate, and apply health information from digital sources- is increasingly essential for chronic disease self-management. Despite rapid digital health advancements in the Arab region, evidence on DHL among patients with chronic diseases remains limited. Our recent systematic review found no studies addressing DHL in this population. This study aimed to assess DHL and its associated sociodemographic and behavioral factors among Arab adults with diabetes (DM), hypertension (HTN), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Qatar.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Arab adults recruited from outpatient clinics at Hamad General Hospital, Qatar. Eligible participants were aged ≥18 years and diagnosed with DM, HTN and/or RA. The survey included the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), sociodemographic and clinical questions, digital technology use, physical activity, the Patient Activation Measure (PAM), and self-reported behavior change. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariable logistic regression identified determinants of high DHL (eHEALS ≥27).
RESULTS: A total of 405 participants were included [mean age 53.8 (SD 12.6) years; 69.6% male]. The mean DHL score was 24.9 ± 7.6, with 53.1% classified as having high DHL. In multivariable analysis, participants aged ≥60 years had significantly lower odds of high DHL compared to those <45 years (aOR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06-0.52; p = 0.002), while those with an advanced degree had higher odds compared to those with a high school education or less (aOR: 3.97; 95% CI: 1.22-12.89; p = 0.022). Frequent internet use (several times/day: aOR: 4.21; 95% CI: 1.75-10.13; p = 0.001; constant use: aOR: 4.63; 95% CI: 1.75-12.26; p = 0.002) and use of the internet for health information (aOR: 47.71; 95% CI: 16.36-139.12; p < 0.001) were strong predictors of high DHL. Higher DHL was also significantly associated with greater patient activation across multiple domains (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: DHL among Arab adults with chronic diseases in Qatar is moderate, with significant disparities by age, education, and digital engagement. Targeted interventions that translate DHL assessments into individualized self-care guidance, including simplified digital tools, accessible Arabic-language resources, and structured patient education, are needed to ensure that improved literacy translates directly into better chronic disease self-management outcomes.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Arab adults recruited from outpatient clinics at Hamad General Hospital, Qatar. Eligible participants were aged ≥18 years and diagnosed with DM, HTN and/or RA. The survey included the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), sociodemographic and clinical questions, digital technology use, physical activity, the Patient Activation Measure (PAM), and self-reported behavior change. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariable logistic regression identified determinants of high DHL (eHEALS ≥27).
RESULTS: A total of 405 participants were included [mean age 53.8 (SD 12.6) years; 69.6% male]. The mean DHL score was 24.9 ± 7.6, with 53.1% classified as having high DHL. In multivariable analysis, participants aged ≥60 years had significantly lower odds of high DHL compared to those <45 years (aOR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06-0.52; p = 0.002), while those with an advanced degree had higher odds compared to those with a high school education or less (aOR: 3.97; 95% CI: 1.22-12.89; p = 0.022). Frequent internet use (several times/day: aOR: 4.21; 95% CI: 1.75-10.13; p = 0.001; constant use: aOR: 4.63; 95% CI: 1.75-12.26; p = 0.002) and use of the internet for health information (aOR: 47.71; 95% CI: 16.36-139.12; p < 0.001) were strong predictors of high DHL. Higher DHL was also significantly associated with greater patient activation across multiple domains (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: DHL among Arab adults with chronic diseases in Qatar is moderate, with significant disparities by age, education, and digital engagement. Targeted interventions that translate DHL assessments into individualized self-care guidance, including simplified digital tools, accessible Arabic-language resources, and structured patient education, are needed to ensure that improved literacy translates directly into better chronic disease self-management outcomes.