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Online Health Information Literacy Scale

Online Health Information Literacy Scale Test

Learn how well you can find, judge, and use online health info in 2 minutes. Results help pinpoint support needs and guide clearer patient education and resources.

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Questions: 82 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

10,944 views

1,264 completions

1,026 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

27/40

Online Health Information Literacy (OHIL)

Measures how confidently a person can find, understand, and use online health information.

Low

Moderate

High

8 – 16: Low | 17 – 31: Moderate | 32 – 40: High

A score of 27 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a generally adequate ability to navigate and apply online health information with some areas that may feel less confident.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Patients managing chronic conditions

41%OF USERS

People with ongoing health issues take it to check how well they can find, understand, and judge online information about symptoms, treatments, and lifestyle changes.

Parents and family caregivers

34%OF USERS

Caregivers use it to see whether they can quickly verify medical advice online before making decisions for children, older relatives, or dependents.

Clinicians and health educators

25%OF USERS

Professionals take it to gauge patient-facing digital literacy needs and adapt communication materials and education programs accordingly.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Online Literacy in Health Matters (OLiHM)

Average

27.4

Normal range

23.2 — 31.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this scale measure?

It assesses the ability to find, understand, and evaluate health information from online sources. It focuses on search behavior and critical appraisal of digital medical content.

Who is this scale intended for?

It is intended for adults who use the internet to look up health-related information. It may be used in clinical, research, or educational settings.

How long does it take to complete and how many items are included?

Completion time is about 2 minutes. The scale includes 8 items.

How should items be answered?

Select the response option that best reflects typical behavior, not an ideal response. Answer all items based on usual online practices.

How are results typically used?

Results help identify areas of strength and difficulty in using online health information. They can guide communication strategies, education planning, and the design of clearer digital materials.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Online Health Information Literacy Scale Test - Symptoms and Signs

cyberpsychology health

This measure assesses an individual’s ability to locate, evaluate, and apply health-related information found online. The Online Health Information Literacy Scale is intended to capture perceived skills relevant to navigating digital sources of medical and wellness information, including critical appraisal and practical use in decision-making.

The instrument includes 8 items and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. It may be used in clinical, educational, or research contexts to help identify areas where additional support or instruction in digital health information use may be beneficial. Developed by Norman H. Nie and Lee Rainie, the Online Health Information Literacy Scale is commonly administered as a brief self-report screener and should be interpreted in conjunction with other clinical information.

Author: Lee Rainie, Norman H. Nie

Literature: Berkman, N. D., Sheridan, S. L., Donahue, K. E., Halpern, D. J., & Crotty, K. Low health literacy and health outcomes: An updated systematic review. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2011.; Norman, C. D., & Skinner, H. A. eHEALS: The eHealth Literacy Scale. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2006.

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