Ma Zhihao, Wu Mei
Computational Communication Collaboratory, School of Journalism and Communication, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Department of Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.
J Med Internet Res. 2019 Oct 22;21(10):e15720. doi: 10.2196/15720.
The eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) is the most widely used instrument in health studies to measure individual's electronic health literacy. Nonetheless, despite the rapid development of the online medical industry and increased rural-urban disparities in China, very few studies have examined the characteristics of the eHEALS among Chinese rural people by using modern psychometric methods. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of eHEALS in a Chinese rural population by using both the classical test theory and item response theory methods.
This study aimed to develop a simplified Chinese version of the eHEALS (C-eHEALS) and evaluate its psychometric properties in a rural population.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 543 rural internet users in West China. The internal reliability was assessed using the Cronbach alpha coefficient. A one-factor structure of the C-eHEALS was obtained via principal component analysis, and fit indices for this structure were calculated using confirmatory factory analysis. Subsequently, the item discrimination, difficulty, and test information were estimated via the graded response model. Additionally, the criterion validity was confirmed through hypothesis testing.
The C-eHEALS has good reliability. Both principal component analysis and confirmatory factory analysis showed that the scale has a one-factor structure. The graded response model revealed that all items of the C-eHEALS have response options that allow for differentiation between latent trait levels and the capture of substantial information regarding participants' ability.
The findings indicate the high reliability and validity of the C-eHEALS and thus recommend its use for measuring eHealth literacy among the Chinese rural population.
电子健康素养量表（eHEALS）是健康研究中用于衡量个体电子健康素养的最广泛使用的工具。尽管如此，在中国，尽管在线医疗行业发展迅速且城乡差距不断扩大，但很少有研究使用现代心理测量方法来研究中国农村人群的eHEALS特征。本研究采用经典测试理论和项目反应理论方法评估了eHEALS在中国农村人群中的心理测量特性。
本研究旨在开发eHEALS的简体中文版（C-eHEALS），并评估其在农村人群中的心理测量特性。
对中国西部543名农村互联网用户进行了横断面调查。使用Cronbach α系数评估内部信度。通过主成分分析获得C-eHEALS的单因素结构，并使用验证性因子分析计算该结构的拟合指数。随后，通过等级反应模型估计项目区分度、难度和测试信息。此外，通过假设检验确认效标效度。
C-eHEALS具有良好的信度。主成分分析和验证性因子分析均表明该量表具有单因素结构。等级反应模型显示，C-eHEALS的所有项目都有反应选项，能够区分潜在特质水平并获取有关参与者能力的大量信息。
研究结果表明C-eHEALS具有较高的信度和效度，因此建议将其用于测量中国农村人群的电子健康素养。
