[MA 2025 10] Translation and Testing of the Digital Health Literacy (digi-HL) Subscale of the HLS-24 Instrument for the Dutch context
eHealth Living & Learning Lab Amsterdam, department of Medical Informatics, Amsterdam UMC, location AMC
Proposed by: Dr. Marloes Derksen [m.e.derksen@amsterdamumc.nl]
Introduction
Digital health literacy is an essential component of modern health literacy, especially as healthcare becomes increasingly digitized(1). Digital health literacy (digi-HL) has been developed as a subscale in the Health Literacy Survey (HLS) of the WHO Action Network M-POHL (Measuring Population and Organizational Health Literacy) (2-6).
This SRP focuses specifically on the Dutch translation and validation of the digi-HL component of the HLS, with the aim of making it applicable in the Dutch context.
Description of the SRP Project/Problem
The SRP consists of two interconnected studies focused on the digi-HL subscale of the HLS:
Study 1: Translation
The translation process begins with two independent forward translations—one by the research team and one by a professional translator. These are then compared and merged into a consensus version through discussion. Existing translations of similar items may be consulted to support this process. Finally, a professional translator performs a back translation into English, which is compared to the original to check for accuracy and consistency. Dependant on the possibilities based on the M-POHL guidelines, AI might be used to support the translation process.
Study 2: Testing
a) Testing the final questionnaire for comprehensibility (pretest) using cognitive interviews (n=15-20)
b) Testing the final questionnaire under real survey conditions (pilot) through quantitative data collection (n=30-40)
Research questions
1. How accurate and culturally appropriate is the Dutch translation of the digi-HL subscale of the HLS-24, as ensured through a multi-step translation and back translation procedure?
2. How comprehensible and feasible is the final Dutch version of the digi-HL subscale of the HLS-24 under real survey conditions?
Expected results
- A culturally adapted Dutch translation of the digi-HL subscale.
- Empirical evidence on the validity and reliability of the Dutch digi-HL items.
Time period, please tick at least 1 time period
November 2025 – June 2026
Contact
Dr. Marloes Derksen (assistant professor), m.e.derksen@amsterdamumc.nl
eHealth Living & Learning Lab, Department of Medical Informatics, Amsterdam UMC – location AMC
Dr. Mirjam Fransen (associate professor), m.p.fransen@amsterdamumc.nl
Department of Public & Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC – location VUmc
Department of Behaviour & Health, Centre for Prevention, Lifestyle & Health, RIVM
References
Norman, C.D., & Skinner, H.A. (2006). eHealth literacy: essential skills for consumer health in a networked world. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 8(2), e9.
Levin-Zamir D., Van den Broucke S., Pelikan J., Bíró E., Bøggild H., Bruton L., De Gani S. M., Gibney S., Griebler R., Griese L., Klochánová Z., Kucera Z., Link T., Mancini J., Miksova D., Pettersen K. S., Le C., Finbråten H. S., Guttersrud Ø., , . . .. for the HLS19 Consortium of the WHO Action Network M-POHL. (2021).?DHL. In?International report on the methodology, results, and recommendations of the European health literacy population survey 2019–2021 (HLS19) of M-POHL?(pp. 275–308).
Austrian National Public Health Institute. (2021).?International Report on the Methodology, Results, and Recommendations of the European Health Literacy Population Survey 2019–2021 (HLS19) of M-POHL.?https://m-pohl.net/sites/m-pohl.net/files/inline-files/HLS19%20International%20Report.pdf
https://m-pohl.net/HLS24
Sørensen, K., Pelikan, J.M., Röthlin, F. et al. (2015). Health literacy in Europe: comparative results of the European health literacy survey (HLS-EU). European Journal of Public Health, 25(6), 1053–1058.
Van Der Vaart, R., & Drossaert, C. (2017). Development of the digital health literacy instrument: measuring a broad spectrum of health 1.0 and health 2.0 skills.?Journal of medical Internet research,?19(1), e27.