Ability to utilize digital health services: Validating the DHC measure in youth.

Abstract

Background: While adolescents and young adults are increasingly expected to take more responsibility for their health and wellbeing, continuing digital transformation and increased implementation of digital health services demand skills to utilize digital solutions offered to successfully undertake self-care and self-management. However, research is lacking regarding measurement of adolescents’ and young adults’ ability to utilize digital health services (DHC). Objective: This study aims to measure young people’s ability to utilize digital health services by 1) validating the DHC scale in adolescents and young adults and 2) exploring the extent to which DHC and digital health literacy (DHL) are associated with the number of GP, emergency, or specialist visits. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 890 Norwegian 16–25-year-old adolescents and young adults. Data were collected during April–October 2020 using computer-assisted telephone interviewing. Rasch modeling, independent samples t-test, chi-square test, and negative binomial regression models were used to analyze the data. Key Results: The DHC scale is considered valid for measuring DHC in adolescents and young adults, showing sufficient unidimensionality, good overall data-model fit, and no disordered response