Arabic Version of the Electronic Health Literacy Scale in Arabic-Speaking Individuals in Sweden: Prospective Psychometric Evaluation Study

Background Health information is often communicated through the internet. It vital for end user to have a range of digital skills as well understand promote their health. There valid and reliable 8-item instrument, Electronic Literacy Scale (eHEALS), that evaluates these skills. The number Arabic-speaking people migrating Sweden other parts world increasing due unstable military political situations in countries origin. Poor health limited literacy been described this population Sweden. Still, our knowledge, an Arabic version eHEALS has not tested validity or reliability. Thus, populations cannot be included studies measuring eHealth literacy, which does support equal treatment care. Objective aim study was translate adapt original English into evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods rigorously translated, adapted, evaluated content validity. We conducted prospective evaluation with natively participants living Construct validity, factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability were using Spearman correlation, principal component analysis, Cronbach ?, weighted quadratic Cohen ?, respectively. Results consisted (n=298; age: mean 41.8 years, SD 10.5). supported weak moderate correlations. Principal analysis revealed one-factor structure. Internal consistency high (Cronbach ?=0.92); acceptable (weighted ?=0.76). Evaluation indicated threshold values should dichotomized (limited sufficient) rather than trichotomized (inadequate, problematic, sufficient). Conclusions eHEALS, unidimensional scale among Sweden, found feasible general population.