Promoting health literacy: What potential does nursing informatics offer to support older adults in the use of technology? A scoping review

Abstract

Digitalization is the future and, simultaneously, a challenge for nursing. In addition, health literacy is increasingly associated with the use of technology. Older adults are greatly underrepresented in the use of digital technology and regarded as a vulnerable group. Consequently, training programs for technological knowledge and improving technological competencies are indispensable to promote equal opportunities and health literacy. The researchers inquire what characterizes nursing informatics as an expanding field in relation to the roles and competencies of nurses in technical appropriation processes of older adults. We conducted a scoping review based on a systematic literature search. We identified 23 relevant studies and developed a modular system to characterize the potential of nursing informatics: nursing informatics as a profession, competencies of nurses and nursing informatics, assessments, and eHealth literacy. Nursing informatics is a new field in some countries, but competence profiles and role descriptions clearly show that nurses act as educators, supporters, advocates, and mediators.

Keywords: competencies; eHealth literacy; empowerment; nursing informatics; older adult; trends.