The Self‐Regulation‐Incorporated Digital Health Literacy Scale for Older Adults: Instrument Development and Validation

ABSTRACT Introduction Digital health literacy is a key long‐term health determinant in the digital era, influencing outcomes by enabling individuals to access, evaluate and apply health information in ways that support their personal goals. However, no tool targets older adults to assess digital health literacy with self‐regulation as a core component. Accordingly, we developed and validated a Self‐Regulation‐Incorporated Digital Health Literacy scale (SR‐DHLs) for this population. Methods This conceptually grounded study included instrument development and psychometric validation phases. We generated 23 preliminary items after content and face validity evaluation. Psychometric testing involved item analysis and construct validity assessments conducted through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with 506 older adults. Convergent validity was examined using the Korean version of the eHealth Literacy Scale. Reliability was measured using Cronbach's α and the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results The SR‐DHLs comprises 16 items across four factors: ‘Interaction with other users and systems’, ‘Regulated need‐based selection’, ‘Willingness to actively engage’ and ‘Actualising informed decision‐making’, explaining 63.617% of the variance. Construct validity and acceptable reliability were established. Conclusions The SR‐DHLs is a valid and reliable tool for assessing digital health literacy in older adults. It integrates self‐regulation and resource management—essential aspects for navigating digital environments. Implications for Practice The SR—DHLs could help nurses identify older adults' needs related to digital health and guide the design of accessible and equitable services.