Analysis of Digital Literacy in Health through Active University Teaching

Alejandro De la Hoz, Javier Cubero, Lina Melo, Miguel A. Durán-Vinagre and Susana Sánchez
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Alejandro De la Hoz: Health Education Lab, Department of Experimental Sciences and Mathematics Education, University of Extremadura, 06011 Badajoz, Spain
Javier Cubero: Health Education Lab, Department of Experimental Sciences and Mathematics Education, University of Extremadura, 06011 Badajoz, Spain
Lina Melo: Health Education Lab, Department of Experimental Sciences and Mathematics Education, University of Extremadura, 06011 Badajoz, Spain
Miguel A. Durán-Vinagre: Department of Psychology, University of Extremadura, 06011 Badajoz, Spain
Susana Sánchez: Department of Psychology, University of Extremadura, 06011 Badajoz, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-9

Abstract: As we have seen as a consequence of the COVID-19 global pandemic, our scientific-technological society requires a transformation of knowledge in a global, digital and virtual manner. In light of this, and to improve the public health skills of professionals working to promote health education, one of the current priorities is to train pre-service teachers on how to search for health-related scientific knowledge relating to bio-health through digital literacy in health. The objectives of this study were to determine the level of eHealth literacy, scientific knowledge in health and confidence on the part of students, analyzing the degree of improvement following a teaching intervention with students of the Bachelor’s Degree of Education of the University of Extremadura. A quasi-experimental longitudinal study was carried out with pre-test and post-test groups and a mixed data analysis. It involved the application of an active cooperative methodology with tutoring using the jigsaw technique, with the use of four quality digital browsers to enhance scientific rigor. The results show that the initial level of eHealth literacy and confidence was problematic. Following the intervention with the cooperative methodology, both these levels and the level of scientific knowledge in health reached an excellent level. In conclusion, this suggests that university training programs need to be implemented to improve digital and scientific skills in health education as they are currently insufficient. It has been demonstrated that a cooperative active methodology improved these levels and accordingly its use in active and digital higher education should be promoted.

Keywords: eHealth literacy; confidence; higher education; health promotion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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