Work-related health information literacy: a factor analytic feasibility study of an adapted health information literacy screening tool (EHILS@work)
- 1Medical Faculty, Institute of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Saarland University
- 2Medical Faculty, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Prevention and Workplace Health Management, Lübeck University
Abstract
Introduction: Health information literacy and health literacy increasingly intersect as important determinants of preventive behavior, health outcomes, and functioning at workplaces. Because organizations use a range of analog and digital communication channels and classical workplaces are replaced by hybrid work conditions, employees' ability to seek, evaluate, and apply work-related health information is gaining more relevance. However, these competencies remain insufficiently studied in workplace contexts. To address this gap, the Everyday Health Information Literacy Screening Tool (EHILS) was adapted for occupational use, resulting in the EHILS@work scale.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 1,108 employees of a public administration ( N = 414, participation rate 37 %). The German EHILS was adapted through expert review to reflect work-related information contexts, and one exploratory item on intranet access was added (11 items in total). Descriptive analyses, exploratory factor analysis, reliability testing, and Spearman correlations with work ability and sociodemographic and workrole characteristics were performed.
Results: Exploratory factor analysis (principal axis factoring with Promax rotation) supported a three-factor solution comprising “Awareness and Engagement”, “Assessment and Application”, and “Access and Understanding”. The three factors accounted for 38.3% of the variance, with the additional intranet item loading on the “Access and Understanding” factor. Compared with the original German EHILS scale (α = 0.50 −0.60), the adapted EHILS@work demonstrated improved, though still moderate, reliability for the three-factor solution (α = 0.658). Higher EHILS@work scores were positively associated with work ability, age, higher educational attainment, and leadership responsibilities.
Discussion: The EHILS@work is a practical, time-efficient screening tool for assessing work-related health information literacy. It provides actionable insights into employees' competencies and perceived barriers within everyday organizational information environments. Broader validation, tailored information technology adaptions and longitudinal research are needed to examine its applicability across sectors and its role in shaping workplace health promotion.
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BibTeX
@article{ochsmann2026workrelated,
title = {{Work-related health information literacy: a factor analytic feasibility study of an adapted health information literacy screening tool (EHILS@work)}},
author = {Elke Ochsmann and Omeara Michael Collins},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1974525},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1974525/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Work-related health information literacy: a factor analytic feasibility study of an adapted health information literacy screening tool (EHILS@work)
AU - Elke Ochsmann
AU - Omeara Michael Collins
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1974525
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1974525/full
AB - Introduction: Health information literacy and health literacy increasingly intersect as important determinants of preventive behavior, health outcomes, and functioning at workplaces. Because organizations use a range of analog and digital communication channels and classical workplaces are replaced by hybrid work conditions, employees' ability to seek, evaluate, and apply work-related health information is gaining more relevance. However, these competencies remain insufficiently studied in workplace contexts. To address this gap, the Everyday Health Information Literacy Screening Tool (EHILS) was adapted for occupational use, resulting in the EHILS@work scale. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 1,108 employees of a public administration ( N = 414, participation rate 37 %). The German EHILS was adapted through expert review to reflect work-related information contexts, and one exploratory item on intranet access was added (11 items in total). Descriptive analyses, exploratory factor analysis, reliability testing, and Spearman correlations with work ability and sociodemographic and workrole characteristics were performed. Results: Exploratory factor analysis (principal axis factoring with Promax rotation) supported a three-factor solution comprising “Awareness and Engagement”, “Assessment and Application”, and “Access and Understanding”. The three factors accounted for 38.3% of the variance, with the additional intranet item loading on the “Access and Understanding” factor. Compared with the original German EHILS scale (α = 0.50 −0.60), the adapted EHILS@work demonstrated improved, though still moderate, reliability for the three-factor solution (α = 0.658). Higher EHILS@work scores were positively associated with work ability, age, higher educational attainment, and leadership responsibilities. Discussion: The EHILS@work is a practical, time-efficient screening tool for assessing work-related health information literacy. It provides actionable insights into employees' competencies and perceived barriers within everyday organizational information environments. Broader validation, tailored information technology adaptions and longitudinal research are needed to examine its applicability across sectors and its role in shaping workplace health promotion.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -