Digital Health Literacy: Advancing Equity, Innovation, and Impact in Public Health

Digital technologies, from telemedicine and AI to social media, are now deeply embedded in public health systems, healthcare delivery, and everyday health decision-making. However, Digital Health Literacy (DHL), which is the ability to access, critically evaluate, and use these tools, is unevenly distributed, creating a significant divide. While low DHL exacerbates health inequities and susceptibility to misinformation, strengthening these skills can empower individuals, improve self-management, and ensure a more equitable digital transformation across global health systems.Despite its importance, research in this field remains fragmented, often focusing on narrow definitions and self-reported skills rather than real-world applications or system-level integration. There is a pressing need for conceptual innovation and robust measurement approaches that look beyond individual capabilities to address ethical implications and policy-relevant outcomes. By bridging these research gaps, we can develop evidence-based interventions that better align digital health services with the diverse needs of the public.This Research Topic seeks to advance conceptual and theoretical frameworks of digital health literacy beyond traditional eHealth literacy models while presenting innovative measurement tools and methodologies targeting real-world digital health engagement. Furthermore, it aims to examine the role of emerging technologies, such as AI, chatbots, and immersive tools, in shaping digital health literacy and explore how these competencies influence health behaviors, outcomes, and equity. By informing public health policy, health system design, and workforce development, this topic welcomes interdisciplinary contributions from public health, digital health, education, behavioral science, health communication, informatics, ethics, and policy disciplines.Submissions may include (but are not limited to) the following areas:• Conceptual Advances: New frameworks for AI, data, and legal literacy, alongside life-course and health equity perspectives.• Measurement Innovation: Development of performance-based instruments, longitudinal studies, and alternatives to self-reported measures.• Emerging Technologies: The role of generative AI, chatbots, AR/VR, and humanoid robots in health decision-making and safety.• Communication & Misinformation: Strategies for building public trust and using digital literacy as a defense against health misinformation.• Equity & Inclusion: Addressing the digital divide and tailoring solutions for marginalized groups, including older adults and refugees.• Workforce & Education: Integrating digital literacy into healthcare professional training and organizational service design.• Policy & Impact: Examining health outcomes, economic implications, and ethical governance regarding privacy and algorithmic bias.This Research Topic was launched in collaboration with the 3rd Digital Health Symposium 2026 (Thursday 7 May 2026, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta). Under the theme “Digital Health in Action: Moving from Vision to Action,” the symposium will focus on the real steps needed to implement digital health strategies, accelerate innovation, and strengthen collaboration between healthcare institutions, academia, and industry. Topic editors: ERMIRA TARTARI, Conrad Attard, Prof. Georgi Chaltikyan, MD, PhD Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78118/digital-health-literacy-advancing-equity-innovation-and-impact-in-public-health