Table 2 Characteristics of studies to be extracted in the systematic review (n = 14)

Ahmed et al., 2022, Ethiopia.

To assess health professionals’ digital health literacy level and associated factors.

Cross-sectional. Data was collected from January to April 2021.

n = 401

Nurses (n = 124), physicians (n = 107), midwifes (n = 98), labortorians (n = 49), others (n = 23).

Public hospitals in the Illubabor and Buno Bedele zones, Ethiopia.

Yes, a non-established definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy.

Digital health literacy skills.

Median eHealth literacy score was 27.4 (SD 8.3), 43.6% had high eHealth literacy.

A high eHealth literacy was associated with high computer literacy, higher educational level, higher income, perceived digital tool as useful and easy to use, favourable attitude to eHealth, god knowledge of eHealth, higher frequency internet use.

Alipour and Payandeh, 2022, Iran.

To evaluate and compare the level of digital health literacy of different health care workers.

Cross-sectional,

Data was collected in 2021.

n = 375 (61%)

Physicians (n = 17), nurses (n = 251), medical records (n = 63), radiology (n = 13), pharmacy (n = 7), laboratory (n = 24). Five teaching hospitals in Iran.

Yes, an established definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy and on how the individual interact with the eHealth system.

The Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI).

The healthcare workers have desirable or very desirable literacy in all of the investigated eHealth literacy scales, but relatively far from achieving the very desirable level in the categories related to determining relevance and evaluating reliability. The mean digital health literacy was significantly different based on level of education, hospital, and job category.

Chereka et al., 2022, Ethiopia.

To assess digital health literacy to share COVID-19 related information and associated factors among healthcare providers.

Cross-sectional. Data was collected from April to May 2021.

n = 456 (95.8%)

Doctors (n = 85), Nurses (n = 181), laboratory (n = 91),

anesthesia (n = 11), pharmacy (n = 57), radiology (n = 6)

COVID-19 treatment center hospitals in the Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia.

No definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy.

Digital health literacy to share COVID-19 related knowledge.

In total, 50.4% of health care providers were at a high level in eHealth literacy to sharing of COVID-19 related information. Higher eHealth literacy was associated with higher education level, access to smartphone, had computer training, favourable attitude towards eHealth, perceived digital tool as useful and ease to use.

Cho et al., 2018, South Korea.

To assess eHealth literacy and health-promoting behaviours among hospital nurses and to determine whether eHealth literacy was associated with their health-promoting behaviours.

Cross-sectional. Data was collected from March to May 2016.

n = 485

Nurses (n = 485).

Five hospitals in

South Korea.

Yes, an

established definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy.

eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS).

The mean eHealth literacy score was 28.21 (SD 0.38) (8–40). Higher eHealth literacy was associated with better health-promoting behaviour.

Gartrell et al., 2020, South Korea.

To examine the factorial validity of the eHealth Literacy Scale among hospital nurses and to investigate the associations of its components with health promoting behaviours and nursing performance quality.

Cross-sectional. Data was collected from March to May 2016.

n = 484 (95%)

*same as Cho et al., 2018

Nurses (n = 485)

Five hospitals in

South Korea.

*same population as Cho et al., 2018

Yes, an

established definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy.

eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS)

Confirmed a 3-factor model (Awareness, Skills and Evaluate).

Higher Awareness, Skills and Evaluate were associated with having better health-promoting behaviour.

Isazadeh et al., 2019, Iran

To investigate the electronic health literacy level in nurses working at selected military hospitals in

Tehran in 2019.

Cross-sectional, Data was collected in 2019.

n = 135

Nurses (n = 135).

Three military hospitals in Tehran.

Yes, an

established definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy.

eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS).

The mean score of the electronic health literacy of nurses was 31.72 (SD 5.51).

Nurses’ eHealth literacy was significantly correlated with age, working hospital, and education level.

Kayser et al., 2022, Denmark.

To investigate how a newly developed and modified instrument measuring the medical staff’s eHealth can be used to inform the system provider and the health care organization in the implementation process and evaluate whether the medical staff’s perceptions of the ease of use change and how this may be related to their level of eHealth literacy.

Longitudinal design whit two cross-sectional samples.

Data was collected from November 2015 to March 2016.

Sample 1: n = 194 (65.8%) Sample 2: 198 (67.1%)

Physicians (n = 46/50)

Medical secretary (n = 29/26),

Nursing assistants (n = 16/15),

nurses (n = 97/104), others (n = 6/3).

The Department of Medisin C, Herlev-Gentofte University Hospital.

Yes, an

established definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy, on how the individual interact with the eHealth system and of the system.

Staff eHealth literacy questionnaire (eHLQ staff).

Staff eHLQ scale 1–3 were at a relatively higher level, but lower at scale 4–7. The physicians scored higher on Staff eHLQ2, and lower on eHLQ6 and eHLQ7 compared to other health care providers. Staff eHLQ scale 1–4 was negative correlated to age. Males had higher score on eHLQ5 compared to female. Staff eHLQ was positive correlated with experience of quick and easy access to information, sharing of data to reduce double registration and stability of IT systems. A small decrease in the staff eHLQ5 at 3-month follow-up.

Kritsotakis et al., 2021, Greece.

To report on eHealth literacy levels in nurses and to explore its associations with the nursing practice environment.

Cross-sectional. Data was collected from February to March 2019.

n = 200 (74.34%)

Nurse (n = 121), assistant nurses (n = 79).

Tree secondary and one primary general-care hospital in Greece.

Yes, a non-established definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy.

eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS).

Mean eHealth literacy score 30.7 (SD 5.8) (8–40). There was no statistical significant difference between the two professions. A higher eHealth literacy was associated with better collegial nurse-physician relationship and nurse participation in hospital affairs.

Şayik and Uçan, 2022, Turkey.

To determine the level of anxiety and eHealth literacy and related factors among physicians and nurses working in adult and/or paediatric inpatient and intensive care facilities where COVID-19 patients were cared for during the pandemic.

Cross-sectional. Data was collected between December 2018 and January 2021.

n = 161

Physician (n = 58),

nurses (n = 103).

Adult and/or paediatric inpatient and intensive care units.

Yes, a non-established definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy.

eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS).

The mean eHealth literacy score was 28.72 (SD 7.74) (8–40). There was a statistical significant difference between the mean eHEALS score for physician (30.7) and nurses (27.6). Higher eHealth literacy was associated with being married, higher education, did not think that they needed professional psychological support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shiferaw and Mehari, 2019, Ethiopia.

To assess the extent of Internet use and eHealth literacy among health care providers.

Cross-sectional. Data was collected from November 2017 to January 2018.

n = 291 (98.6%)

Doctors (n = 19),

nurses (n = 88), officers (n = 9), technicians (n = 50), midwifes (n = 64), pharmacist (n = 57).

The University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, northwest Ethiopia.

Yes, an

established definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy.

eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS).

Mean eHealth literacy score 27.84 (SD 5.69) (8–40).

Almost 70% reported high eHealth literacy (Cut-off eHEALS score 26) (Medical doctor 100%, nurse 73.9%, health officer 100%, lab technician 70%, midwife: 56.3%, pharmacist 61.4%).

The majority with high eHealth literacy were aged 20–29 years and females.

Tesfa et al.,. 2021, Ethiopia.

To assess the level of eHealth-information resource utilization and identify associated factors among health professionals at teaching hospitals in Amhara, Ethiopia.

Cross-sectional. Data was collected from February to May 2020.

n = 383

Nurses (n = 158),

doctors (n = 94), pharmacy (n = 30),

midwifes (n = 54), laboratory (n = 24), others (n = 23). A specialized teaching hospitals in Amhara.

No definition.

Not described.

Not described.

Those with higher eHealth literacy were more likely to use electronic health-information resources compare with those with lower eHealth literacy.

Tesfa et al., 2022, Ethiopia.

To assess the eHealth literacy level and its associated factors among health professionals.

Same as Tesfa et al.,. 2021.

Same population as Tesfa et al.,. 2021.

Yes, an

established definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy.

eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS).

The mean score for eHealth literacy was 29.21 (SD 7.08) (5–40), and 58.7% had high eHealth literacy. A higher eHealth literacy was associated with better computer access, good computer knowledge, and perceived digital tool as useful and ease to use.

Yoğurtcu and Haney, 2022, Turkey.

To examine and determine the relationship between e-health literacy and the health promoting behaviours.

Cross-sectional. Data was collected from June to august 2019.

n = 451

Nurses (n = 451).

Two large training and research hospitals in Izmir, Turkey.

Yes, an

established definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy.

eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS).

Mean eHealth literacy score 29.87 (SD 5.39) (8–40)

Higher eHealth literacy were associated with better health promoting behaviours.

Özer et al. 2021 Turkey.

To examine the effects of nurses’ and other healthcare workers’ perceptions of cyberchondria on eHealth literacy.

Cross-sectional,

n = 220

Nurses (n = 140), others (n = 80).

A public hospital in Burdur, Turkey.

Yes, a non-established definition.

Domains dependent of the basic individual eHealth literacy.

eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS).

Moderate eHealth literacy.

Higher eHealth literacy was associated with increased cyberchondria excessiveness dimension.