Home › Research › Digital health tools
Effect of a Digital Literacy Program on Older Adults' Digital Social Behavior: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Lee H, Lim JA, Nam HK.. International journal of environmental research and public health, 2022-09-29
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
In South Korea, digital literacy education programs are expected to help its older population participate in online welfare services to increase their social support, self-esteem and well-being. This quasi-experimental study assesses the effects of digital literacy education on digital device usage among rural-dwelling adults aged 65 and above and evaluates the positive effects of digital literacy education on depression, happiness, quality of life, self-efficacy and cognitive function. A digital literacy education program and a customized questionnaire survey were conducted to evaluate smartphone use competency and the program's effects, respectively. We also conducted a chi-square test, paired t -test and difference-in-differences regression analysis. The experimental group showed a significant increase in smartphone usage and video recording capacity than the control group. The happiness and cognitive function scores for dementia screening increased significantly by a mean of 3.7 and 1.1 points, respectively, after digital literacy education. Cognitive function increased significantly by 1.305 points in the experimental group compared to the control group (β = 1.305, p = 0.05 *). Digital literacy education for older adults in rural areas greatly increased smartphone use, video recording capacity, happiness and cognitive function. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the government should implement digital literacy education for older adults in rural areas to increase their happiness and cognitive function.
Key findings
- The experimental group showed a significant increase in smartphone usage and video recording capacity than the control group.
- The happiness and cognitive function scores for dementia screening increased significantly by a mean of 3.7 and 1.1 points, respectively, after digital literacy education.
- Cognitive function increased significantly by 1.305 points in the experimental group compared to the control group (β = 1.305, p = 0.05 *).
- Based on these findings, it is recommended that the government should implement digital literacy education for older adults in rural areas to increase their happiness and cognitive function.
Why it matters
Digital literacy education for older adults in rural areas increased smartphone use, video recording capacity, happiness and cognitive function scores. Cognitive function increased significantly by 1.305 points in the experimental group compared to the control group, but this was an education program, not a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Digital health →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International journal of environmental research and public health) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: journal h-index 320 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 85 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 14.2 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 25.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 74 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Hae Kweun Nam: h-index 10 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Yonsei University: institution h-index 777 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 36231707) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912404
- PubMed: 36231707
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Lee, H., Lim, J. A., & Nam, H. K. (2022). Effect of a Digital Literacy Program on Older Adults' Digital Social Behavior: A Quasi-Experimental Study. International journal of environmental research and public health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912404
Vancouver
Lee H, Lim JA, Nam HK. Effect of a Digital Literacy Program on Older Adults' Digital Social Behavior: A Quasi-Experimental Study. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2022. doi:10.3390/ijerph191912404. PMID: 36231707.
BibTeX
@article{lee2022-36231707,
author = {Lee, H. and Lim, J. A. and Nam, H. K.},
title = {{Effect of a Digital Literacy Program on Older Adults' Digital Social Behavior: A Quasi-Experimental Study}},
journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.3390/ijerph191912404},
pmid = {36231707},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912404}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Related studies in Digital health tools
Also tagged “cognitive-function”
1,118 studies in the library carry the topic tag “cognitive-function”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 1,118 tagged studies.