Digital health literacy of ageing population in Coastal Karnataka

The study is a cross-sectional survey aimed at assessing the digital health literacy levels of the ageing population (individuals aged 45 to 79 years) residing in coastal Karnataka. The objectives are to evaluate the current level of digital health literacy among the ageing population in coastal Karnataka and to explore the factors influencing it. Participants will be selected using convenience sampling, with recruitment continuing until the desired sample size is achieved. The inclusion criteria are individuals aged 45 to 79 years, willing to participate, and residing in the coastal area. The exclusion criteria include individuals below 45 years and above 79 years, those not willing to participate or give consent, those not residing in the coastal area, and those with serious health conditions. The questionnaire will be available in both English and Kannada, and only participants able to understand and respond in either of these languages will be selected. Data will be collected using two questionnaires: the eHEALS and a questionnaire prepared by the principal investigator to collect socio-demographic details and digital tool usage patterns of the participants. The data collected will then be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.