Digital health literacy among patients with coronary heart disease was generally low and exhibited significant heterogeneity across three distinct profiles, with older age associated with lower literacy and higher education, urban residence, greater social support, and stronger health beliefs associated with higher digital health literacy profiles.
The mean digital health literacy score among coronary heart disease patients was 19.27, indicating a relatively low level.
Latent profile analysis identified three distinct digital health literacy profiles among coronary heart disease patients.
Older age was associated with membership in lower digital health literacy profiles.
Higher education level, urban residence, greater social support, and stronger health beliefs were each associated with membership in higher digital health literacy profiles.
Digital health literacy among coronary heart disease patients exhibited significant heterogeneity across identified subgroups.
This research suggests that among patients with coronary heart disease in China, the ability to find, understand, and use digital health information — known as digital health literacy — is generally quite low. Researchers surveyed 341 patients at a hospital in the Guangxi region and found an average digital health literacy score that the authors characterized as relatively low. Using a statistical method called latent profile analysis, they identified three distinct groups: nearly half of patients (48%) were in a 'low literacy, passive reception' group who struggled to actively engage with digital health information; about 32% were in a moderate group who could apply some digital tools but had difficulty critically evaluating information; and only about 20% were in a high-literacy group capable of making independent, informed decisions using digital resources. The study also identified several factors linked to these different groups. Older patients were more likely to fall into the lower literacy groups, while patients with higher levels of formal education, those living in urban areas, those with stronger social support networks, and those with stronger health beliefs were more likely to belong to higher literacy groups. These findings held up in multivariate statistical analyses that accounted for multiple factors simultaneously. This research suggests that healthcare providers working with heart disease patients should not treat digital health literacy as uniform across patients. Instead, targeted interventions may be needed — for example, extra support for older or rural patients who are more likely to struggle with digital health tools. Improving digital health literacy could potentially help patients better manage their condition through online resources, telehealth, and health apps, but the finding that nearly half of this patient population falls into the lowest literacy category highlights a significant gap that warrants attention.
Luo L, Liao T, Gan Y, Yi M, Zou B, Lu Y, et al.. (2026). Latent profile and associated factors of digital health literacy among patients with coronary heart disease: a cross-sectional study.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1844333