[The online literacy of Russian citizen in issues of health information: psychometric characteristics of Russian version of eHEALS].

Abstract

Nowadays, online environment is the main source of health information. The purpose of the study was twofold and supposed, firstly, adaptation of Russian version of the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), and secondly, analysis of relationship between eHEALS scores and indications of critical thinking and phenomena of cyber environment (doom-scrolling, cyberchondria and social networks dependence) among Russians. The sampling consisted of 1,025 respondents. Besides eHEALS, such questionnaires as Doomscrolling Scale, Cyberchondria Scale, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale and Thinking Style Questionnaire were applied. The results of data factorization revealed one-factor structure of questionnaire. The high values of Cronbach α-coefficient (α = 0.929) and MacDonald's ω-coefficient (ω = 0.930) confirmed inner consistency of adapted scale. The total indicator according eHEALS was positively correlated with general health index, indicators of doomscrolling, cyberchondria, social networks dependence and analytical thinking style. The negative correlation was established indicators of synthetic and idealistic thinking styles. The online literacy in health information issues was related to female gender, but had no dependencies with age of respondents. The residents of Moscow and other megalopolises had higher indicators of online literacy in matters of health information as compared with residents of Oblast and district centers. The psychometric analysis of Russian version of the eHEALS confirmed its psychometric validity.