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eHealth LiteracyNCT06374576

Improving eHealth Literacy of Older Adults in Hong Kong

A study testing Lecture on eHealth literacy, Digital intervention on eHealth literacy and Lecture on general health in people with eHealth Literacy, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in China.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study is an randomized controlled trial (RCT) study to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a community-based health promotion education intervention for improving the eHealth literacy of older adults Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
eHealth Literacy
What is being tested?
Lecture on eHealth literacy, Digital intervention on eHealth literacy and Lecture on general health
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
93 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
1 May 2024to 31 Dec 2024
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 65 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Aged 65 years old or above
  • Chinese speaking
  • Cognitively and mentally fit
  • Understand survey questions
  • Reported lower eHealth literacy scores (eHEALS < 26) in previous study
  • Smartphone user

Who cannot join

  • All subjects have the right to withdraw if they wish not to continue

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site

  • The University of Hong Kong

    Hong Kong

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Improving eHealth Literacy of Older Adults in Hong Kong: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study

This study is an randomized controlled trial (RCT) study to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a community-based health promotion education intervention for improving the eHealth literacy of older adults

Read the detailed description

Background: Potential positive health outcomes were related to improved eHealth literacy. It is crucial to identify the population groups that may have low eHealth literacy. This eHealth literacy trail aims to design health promotion education intervention to improve the eHealth literacy of older adults in Hong Kong.

Study design: This RCT study will be conducted at the local non-governmental organization (NGO) centers in Hong Kong. Participants in the intervention group will receive a health promotion education program for improving eHealth literacy. The education program will be delivered through collaborative learning, including a 1.5-hour lecture and a 1-week digital intervention

Being tested
Lecture on eHealth literacy, Digital intervention on eHealth literacy, Lecture on general health, Digital intervention on general health

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Lecture on eHealth literacyBehavioural

    There will be a lecture on eHealth literacy. The lecture will be delivered by one well-trained lecturer. , the lecture will be held for old adults in small groups, including a structured curriculum consisting of 4 parts: 5 minutes for the introduction, 40 minutes for the lecture and demonstration, and 40 minutes for hands-on session, 5 minutes for wrapping up. The contents covered in the 40-minute lecture were as follows: 1) smartphone internet basics; 2) introduction of the website prepared for this study; 3) evaluation of the credibility of online health information.

  • Digital intervention on eHealth literacyBehavioural

    1-week digital intervention, which are multiple messages about the lecture topic will be provided

  • Lecture on general healthBehavioural

    A lecture session that focus on the general health but not eHealth literacy will be provided

  • Digital intervention on general healthBehavioural

    1-week digital intervention, which are multiple messages about the lecture topic will be provided

Study groups in NCT06374576
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Lecture on eHealth literacy and digital interventionExperimentalParticipants in the intervention group will receive a health promotion education program for improving eHealth literacy. The education program will include a 1.5-hour lecture and a 1-week digital intervention
Receives: Behavioral: Lecture on eHealth literacy; Behavioral: Digital intervention on eHealth literacy
Lecture on general health and digital interventionPlacebo comparatorParticipants in the control group will receive a health promotion education program about general health. The education program will include a lecture and a 1-week digital intervention
Receives: Behavioral: Lecture on general health; Behavioral: Digital intervention on general health

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. eHealth literacy

    eHealth literacy score will be assessed with the 8-item eHealth literacy Scale (eHEALS) on a five-point Likert scale. The scale range from 8 to 40, higher scores means a better e-health literacy.

    Measured: Baseline, 2-week, 3- and 6-month after intervention

Secondary outcomes (5)

  1. Health Knowledge Learning Intention

    To measure the health knowledge learning intention, the three-item questionnaire were adopted and modified from existing studies. This is a five-point Likert scale ranging from 3 to 15, with higher scores means higher health knowledge learning intention.

    Measured: Baseline, 2-week, 3- and 6-month after intervention

  2. Online Health Information Seeking

    Modified from the measurement adopted and revised from existing study, three-item questionnaire were used to test online health information-seeking behavior. This is a five-point Likert scale ranging from 3 to 15, with higher scores means better online health information seeking.

    Measured: Baseline, 2-week, 3- and 6-month after intervention

  3. Online Health Information Scanning

    Three-item questionnaire borrowed from existing studies were developed to measure online health information-scanning behavior. This is a five-point Likert scale ranging from 3 to 15, with higher scores means better online health information scanning.

    Measured: Baseline, 2-week, 3- and 6-month after intervention

  4. Health-promotion behaviors

    To measure health-promotion behaviors, 24 questions were developed adopted from existing studies, which contains six dimensions (Exercise, Nutrition, Self-actualization, Interpersonal Support, Health Responsibility, Stress Management), with a 4-item sub-scale allocated to each dimension. For each sub-scale, this is a four-item Likert scale ranging from 4 to 16, with higher scores means better outcome in this dimension.

    Measured: Baseline, 2-week, 3- and 6-month after intervention

  5. Health Decision Change

    Health Decision Change. Measurements of health decision change were adapted and modified from existing studies. A total of three items are developed to measure older adults' health decision change based on the health information acquired from their smartphones. This is a five-point Likert scale ranging from 3 to 15, with higher scores means greater health decision change .

    Measured: Baseline, 2-week, 3- and 6-month after intervention

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted18 Apr 2024
  2. Study start1 May 2024
  3. Primary completion31 Jul 2024
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
93 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06374576
Sponsor's protocol ID
GCIEL
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
9 Apr 2024
Last updated
4 May 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Publications

  • Berkowsky RW. Exploring Predictors of eHealth Literacy Among Older Adults: Findings From the 2020 CALSPEAKS Survey. Gerontol Geriatr Med. 2021 Dec 14;7:23337214211064227. doi: 10.1177/23337214211064227. eCollection 2021 Jan-Dec.

    PubMed 34926723

  • Pourrazavi S, Kouzekanani K, Bazargan-Hejazi S, Shaghaghi A, Hashemiparast M, Fathifar Z, Allahverdipour H. Theory-based E-health literacy interventions in older adults: a systematic review. Arch Public Health. 2020 Aug 10;78:72. doi: 10.1186/s13690-020-00455-6. eCollection 2020.

    PubMed 32793345

  • Xie B. Effects of an eHealth literacy intervention for older adults. J Med Internet Res. 2011 Nov 3;13(4):e90. doi: 10.2196/jmir.1880.

    PubMed 22052161

  • Chang SJ, Yang E, Lee KE, Ryu H. Internet health information education for older adults: A pilot study. Geriatr Nurs. 2021 Mar-Apr;42(2):533-539. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2020.10.002. Epub 2020 Oct 19.

    PubMed 33092906

  • Norman CD, Skinner HA. eHEALS: The eHealth Literacy Scale. J Med Internet Res. 2006 Nov 14;8(4):e27. doi: 10.2196/jmir.8.4.e27.

    PubMed 17213046

  • Wong DK, Cheung MK. Online Health Information Seeking and eHealth Literacy Among Patients Attending a Primary Care Clinic in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Survey. J Med Internet Res. 2019 Mar 27;21(3):e10831. doi: 10.2196/10831.

    PubMed 30916666

  • Waters EA, Wheeler C, Hamilton JG. How Are Information Seeking, Scanning, and Processing Related to Beliefs About the Roles of Genetics and Behavior in Cancer Causation? J Health Commun. 2016;21(sup2):6-15. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2016.1193917. Epub 2016 Sep 23.

    PubMed 27661291

  • Zhang L, Jung EH, Chen Z. Modeling the Pathway Linking Health Information Seeking to Psychological Well-Being on WeChat. Health Commun. 2020 Aug;35(9):1101-1112. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2019.1613479. Epub 2019 May 15.

    PubMed 31088169

  • Walker SN, Sechrist KR, Pender NJ. The Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile: development and psychometric characteristics. Nurs Res. 1987 Mar-Apr;36(2):76-81.

    PubMed 3644262

  • Ruggiero KJ, Gros DF, McCauley J, de Arellano MA, Danielson CK. Rural adults' use of health-related information online: data from a 2006 National Online Health Survey. Telemed J E Health. 2011 Jun;17(5):329-34. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2010.0195. Epub 2011 Apr 27.

    PubMed 21524201

  • Fisher WA, Fisher JD, Harman J. The information-motivation-behavioral skills model: A general social psychological approach to understanding and promoting health behavior. In: Social Psychological Foundations of Health and Illness. Malden, MA, USA: Blackwell Publishing Ltd; 2010. p. 82-106.

  • Shang L, Zuo M. Investigating older adults' intention to learn health knowledge on social media. Educ Gerontol [Internet]. 2020;46(6):350-63.

  • Ahadzadeh AS, Pahlevan Sharif S, Sim Ong F. Online health information seeking among women: the moderating role of health consciousness. Online Inf Rev [Internet]. 2018;42(1):58-72.

  • Wei MH, Lu CM. Development of the short-form Chinese health-promoting lifestyle profile. J Health Educ. 2005;24:25-46.

  • Song J, Li Y, Guo X, Shen KN, Ju X. Making mobile health information advice persuasive: An Elaboration Likelihood Model perspective. J Organ End User Comput [Internet]. 2022;34(4):1-22.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Lecture on eHealth literacy, Digital intervention on eHealth literacy and Lecture on general health in people with eHealth Literacy, run by The University of Hong Kong at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

eHealth literacy (time frame: Baseline, 2-week, 3- and 6-month after intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06374576, which also lists 15 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 May 2026.

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