C Robinson, J Graham. Perceived Internet health literacy of HIV-positive people through the provision of a computer and Internet health education intervention. Health Information & Library Journal. 2010;27:295-303>

Robinson and Graham assessed perceived Internet health literacy of HIV-positive people before and after an Internet health information educational intervention. The investigators developed a 50-min educational intervention on basic computer skills and online health information evaluation. They also administered a demographic survey and a validated health literacy survey (eHEALS) at baseline, immediately after, and 3 months the class. Changes in scores between the surveys were analysed. Eighteen HIV-positive participants were included in the final analysis. Before the intervention, most respondents' assessment of their ability to access Internet health information was unfavorable. Post-intervention, the majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed they were able to access and identify Internet health information resources. The increase in self-assessed skill level was statistically significant for all eight items eHEALS (P < 0.05). Scores for the 3-month follow-up survey remained higher than pre-intervention scores for most items.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: Providing an interdisciplinary brief introductory Internet health information educational intervention HIV-positive people with baseline low perceived Internet health literacy significantly improves confidence in finding and using Internet health information resources. Studies with larger numbers of participants should be undertaken to determine if brief interventions improve self-care, patient outcomes and use of emergency services.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE CONSUMER:
The majority of health care consumers are going to need to use the Internet. Use of the technology is occurring in over half of the population but in only five percent of health care personnel. The latter needs to change if efficient and effective health care is going to be provided in the U.S.