eHealth Literacy in German Skin Cancer Patients

Henner Stege, Sara Schneider, Andrea Forschner, Thomas Eigentler, Dorothée Nashan, Svea Huening, Frank Meiss, Saskia Lehr, Martin Kaatz, Robert Kuchen, Katharina C. Kaehler, Maximilian Haist, Jutta Huebner and Carmen Loquai
Additional contact information
Henner Stege: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Sara Schneider: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Andrea Forschner: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
Thomas Eigentler: Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Dorothée Nashan: Department of Dermatology, Hospital Dortmund, 44137 Dortmund, Germany
Svea Huening: Department of Dermatology, Hospital Dortmund, 44137 Dortmund, Germany
Frank Meiss: Department of Dermatology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
Saskia Lehr: Department of Dermatology, Medical Center—University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
Martin Kaatz: Department of Dermatology, Wald-Klinikum Gera, 07546 Gera, Germany
Robert Kuchen: Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Center, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Katharina C. Kaehler: Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Maximilian Haist: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Jutta Huebner: Klinik für Innere Medizin II, Hämatologie und Onkologie, Universitätsklinikum Jena, 07747 Jena, Germany
Carmen Loquai: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: The global incidence of skin cancer has steadily increased in recent years, and malignant melanoma still has one of the fastest-growing incidence rates among all malignant tumors in the western world. Thus, newly diagnosed patients have an increased need for health information concerning their disease. Using a standardized questionnaire, our study aims to investigate our patients’ primary sources of health-related information as well as their self-proclaimed eHealth literacy. We received 714 questionnaires. Regardless of age, the primary source of information was the treating dermato-oncologist, followed by the treating general practitioner and the Internet. However, with increasing age, the usage of the Internet decreased. Hence, younger participants were better equipped to find health-related information while using the Internet. Additionally, comprehending health-related information and gaining medical knowledge was significantly increased in better-educated participants. Overall, our study shows that with increased use of eHealth services, accessing web-based information increased, correlating with a better eHealth literacy of our patients. eHealth technologies are increasingly becoming more prevalent as a primary source of information in our modern health care system. Thus, it is crucial to educate cancer patients in eHealth literacy to make autonomous, informed decisions and gain more confidence in dealing with their disease.

Keywords: eHealth; skin cancer; eHealth literacy; health-related information (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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