Associations between Digital Skill, eHealth Literacy, and Frailty among Older Adults: Evidence from China

Abstract

Objectives

Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome in older adults; however, its relationship with digital factors is underexplored. This study aimed to examine the association between digital skills, eHealth literacy, and frailty to provide insights for developing frailty interventions in the digital age.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting and Participants

Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of older adults aged ≥60 years in China.

Methods

We used a digital skills questionnaire, the eHealth Literacy Scale, and the Tilburg Frailty Indicator to measure digital skill, eHealth literacy, and frailty, respectively. Linear regression and logistic models were established to explore the association between digital skill, eHealth literacy, and frailty. Finally, we used a structural equation model and the Karlson-Holm-Breen method to test the mediation.

Results

A total of 2144 older adults were included in this study. The rates of adequate digital skill, adequate eHealth literacy, and frailty were 4.1%, 11.9%, and 38.3%, respectively. Digital skill (β = −0.108; 95% CI, −0.151 to –0.065) and eHealth literacy (β = −0.153; 95% CI, −0.195 to –0.112) were negatively associated with frailty score (P < .05), and adequate digital skill (odds ratio, 0.367; 95% CI, 0.170-0.793) and adequate eHealth literacy (odds ratio, 0.455; 95% CI, 0.298-0.694) were associated with a lower prevalence of frailty. eHealth literacy had a mediating effect on the association between digital skills and frailty.

Conclusions and Implications

Better digital skill and eHealth literacy are associated with a lower prevalence of frailty among older adults. The association between digital skill and frailty was found to be completely mediated by eHealth literacy.