Three-Factor Structure of the eHealth Literacy Scale Among Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography Outpatients: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis.

Background: Electronic health (eHealth) literacy is needed to effectively engage with Web-based health resources. The 8-item eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS) is a commonly used self-report measure of eHealth literacy. Accumulated evidence has suggested that the eHEALS is unidimensional. However, a recent study by Sudbury-Riley and colleagues suggested that a theoretically-informed three-factor model fit better than a one-factor model. The 3 factors identified were awareness (2 items), skills (3 items), and evaluate (3 items). It is important to determine whether these findings can be replicated in other populations.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to verify the three-factor eHEALS structure among magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) medical imaging outpatients.

Methods: MRI and CT outpatients were recruited consecutively in the waiting room of one major public hospital. Participants self-completed a touchscreen computer survey, assessing their sociodemographic, scan, and internet use characteristics. The eHEALS was administered to internet users, and the three-factor structure was tested using structural equation modeling.

Results: Of 405 invited patients, 87.4% (354/405) were interested in participating in the study, and of these, 75.7% (268/354) were eligible. Of the eligible participants, 95.5% (256/268) completed all eHEALS items. Factor loadings were 0.80 to 0.94 and statistically significant (P<.001). All reliability measures were acceptable (indicator reliability: awareness=.71-.89, skills=.78-.80, evaluate=.64-.79; composite reliability: awareness=.89, skills=.92, evaluate=.89; variance extracted estimates: awareness=.80, skills=.79, evaluate=.72). Two out of three goodness-of-fit indices were adequate (standardized root mean square residual (SRMR)=.038; comparative fit index (CFI)=.944; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=.156). Item 3 was removed because of its significant correlation with item 2 (Lagrange multiplier [LM] estimate 104.02; P<.001) and high loading on 2 factors (LM estimate 91.11; P<.001). All 3 indices of the resulting 7-item model indicated goodness of fit (χ=11.3; SRMR=.013; CFI=.999; RMSEA=.011).

Conclusions: The three-factor eHEALS structure was supported in this sample of MRI and CT medical imaging outpatients. Although further factorial validation studies are needed, these 3 scale factors may be used to identify individuals who could benefit from interventions to improve eHealth literacy awareness, skill, and evaluation competencies.