Assessing eHealth Literacy among Industrial Workers Using Smartphones: A Cross-sectional Study on Perceived Competency and Implications for Workplace-based Digital Interventions

Scale (eHEALS) are useful.The REALD-30 is a word recognition tool that assesses familiarity with common dental and health-related vocabulary, serving as a quick proxy for functional health literacy. 5n contrast, the eHEALS focuses on self-reported confidence in finding, evaluating, and applying health information from the internet. 6This tool complements the REALD-30 by capturing perceptions of digital capability and behavior. 7 IntroductIonIn today's rapidly evolving healthcare ecosystem, digital literacy has emerged as a vital skill for promoting equitable access to health services.The widespread availability of mobile technology, particularly smartphones, has transformed the way individuals access health information, especially in settings with limited healthcare infrastructure. 1 Industrial workers often face a unique set of health risks due to their working conditions.These include long hours, repetitive physical tasks, exposure to hazardous materials, and inadequate access to preventive care. 2 On top of these occupational hazards, limited education, poor healthcare accessibility, and cultural stigma further inhibit timely healthcare-seeking behaviors. 3igital health literacy encompasses more than just the ability to operate a smartphone or browse the internet.It involves critically analyzing health information online, recognizing credible sources, and making informed health decisions.According to Norman and Skinner's conceptual framework, eHealth literacy is composed of six interrelated literacies: traditional (reading and writing), information, media, health, computer, and scientific literacy. 4o evaluate digital and health literacy in these populations, validated assessment tools such as the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-30 (REALD-30) and the eHealth Literacy