Digital literacy refers to the combination of skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for effectively navigating and communicating in the digital realm (Selwyn N, 2020). The concept of digital health, which originates from eHealth, can be defined as the utilization of information and communication technology to support health-related fields. It encompasses various technologies, platforms, and systems that engage individuals for lifestyle, wellness, and health-related purposes, facilitate the collection, storage, or transmission of health data, and provide support for life science and clinical operations (Lavorgna L et al., 2018). Successful treatment usually relies heavily on accurate information and effective communication. Digital health literacy holds particular significance for patients and caregivers. It can assist patients and caregivers in the following ways (Bruke T and William K, 2017):

• Enhancing understanding of their conditions: By possessing digital health literacy skills, patients and caregivers can access dependable information from credible sources regarding disease conditions, symptoms, and available treatment options. This knowledge enables them to better comprehend their condition and make informed decisions about their care.
• Improving communication with healthcare providers: Digital health literacy empowers patients and caregivers to engage in more effective communication with healthcare providers through mediums such as email, telehealth, and other digital tools. This improved communication can foster better relationships between patients and providers, alleviate anxiety related to appointments, and facilitate improved management of symptoms.
• Encouraging active participation in care: Digital health literacy enables patients and caregivers to actively engage in the care process by participating in online support groups, accessing educational materials.

According to literature the prevalence of limited health literacy in patients and caregivers varies between 0% and 52.5% (Yuen EY et al., 2018). Studies have found associations between low health literacy in caregivers and the following: (i) Poorer patient management behaviors (ii) Increased utilization of health services by care recipients, (iii) Increased burden on caregivers (Yuen EY et al., 2018). Another study conducted by Rooney MK et al. (2021) revealed that low health literacy is linked to higher rates of hospitalizations, greater reliance on emergency care, and lower utilization of preventative care measures.

Digital sources have the potential to greatly enhance the health literacy of patients and caregivers. In a study conducted in the United States, researchers analyzed the questions and responses posted on the health care based websites by patients and their caregivers. The study found that people commonly sought information about their recommended treatments, unresolved questions from their doctors, and health habits. The majority of individuals considered the information on the internet to be of good quality (Efthymiou A et al., 2017). However, an important concern associated with web-based content is its reliability, reputation, and accuracy. Information should be presented in a clear manner, with accurate and up-to-date details supported by proper references. Research has shown that approximately 72.5% of websites contains huge flow of advertisements which creates unwanted distraction and decreases usefulness. Moreover, a significant portion of information on websites provides misleading information or inaccurately cited scientific references (Martini M and Bragazzi NL, 2021).

Considering these findings, several studies have concluded that validated digital resources provide more reliable results compared to general search engine results, such as those obtained from Google (Efthymiou A et al., 2017). According to the American Medical Association (AMA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it is recommended that patient materials are prepared equivalent to the sixth and eighth grade level, respectively. An extensive review of 2,585 patient education materials, it was found that only 54 (2.1%) of the materials met the American Medical Association’s recommendation of a sixth-grade reading level, while 215 (8.2%) met the National Institutes of Health’s recommendation of an eighth-grade reading level (Rooney MK et al., 2021).

This emphasizes the importance of ensuring the availability of suitable and validated patient education materials that are easily accessible to patients and their caregivers.