Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: ANDRESSA GISELLE GOMES DE ARAUJO

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : ANDRESSA GISELLE GOMES DE ARAUJO
DATE: 24/07/2026
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Sala Virtual
TITLE:

Digital Inclusion and eHealth Literacy among Primary Health Care Professionals in a Municipality in Northeastern Brazil

KEY WORDS:

Digital Literacy. Health Literacy. Primary Health Care. Health Personnel. Health
Informatics.

PAGES: 58
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Saúde Coletiva
SUMMARY:

Introduction: The digital transformation of health services has expanded the use of
technologies in Primary Health Care (PHC), making eHealth literacy (eHL) an essential
competency for accessing, evaluating, and using digital information in the work process.
Objective: To analyze digital inclusion and the level of eHealth literacy among Primary Health
Care professionals in the municipality of Currais Novos, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, as well
as their possible relationships. Methods: This was an exploratory, descriptive, quantitative,
cross-sectional study. A total of 94 professionals working in 15 Primary Health Care Units
participated. Data were collected between October and December 2025 using a structured
questionnaire administered through the REDCap® platform, including sociodemographic
information, questions on digital inclusion, and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS). Data
were exported to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25.0, and
analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including Spearman's correlation,
Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests with Bonferroni correction, and multiple linear
regression, adopting a significance level of 5%. Results: Moderate and high levels of eHealth
literacy predominated, although weaknesses were identified in the dimension related to the
critical evaluation of digital information. An association was observed between eHealth
literacy and sociodemographic characteristics, with lower levels among older professionals and
higher scores among those with higher educational attainment. Participants showed a high level
of digital inclusion, characterized by broad access to digital devices and the internet, as well as
frequent use of digital technologies. A positive association was found between eHealth literacy
and digital inclusion indicators, with frequency of technology use emerging as the main factor
associated with eHealth literacy after adjustment of the regression model. Conclusion:
Although professionals demonstrated good integration into the digital environment and
satisfactory levels of eHealth literacy, limitations remain regarding the critical evaluation of
information available through digital media, reinforcing the need for continuing education
initiatives to strengthen digital competencies and contribute to the consolidation of digital
transformation in Primary Health Care.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 3474916 - JOSE JAILSON DE ALMEIDA JUNIOR
Interno - 1674532 - DIMITRI TAURINO GUEDES
Interno - 3325430 - TULIO ROMERIO LOPES QUIRINO
Externo à Instituição - JOSÉ DA PAZ OLIVEIRA ALVARENGA - UFPB
Externa à Instituição - Katarinne Lima Moraes - UnB