Bridging the silver–digital divide: how digital literacy shapes diverse healthcare utilisation among China’s older adults—a cross-sectional study in seven Chinese cities

Enhancing digital literacy is a crucial strategy for promoting healthcare service utilisation among older adults in an increasingly digitalized society. Policymakers should prioritize improving digital literacy and integrating digital technology into social support systems. Fostering technology acceptance can further amplify these positive effects. This study provides empirical evidence for understanding the role of digital literacy in healthcare consumption and offers valuable insights for policy development. Limitations include the small sample size relative to China's total older population (<i>n</i> = 1,107) and limited geographical coverage (only seven cities), which may restrict the generalisability of findings to remote rural or megacity areas.