# A Pilot Digital Literacy Intervention to Engage Hospitalized Veterans with MyHealtheVet and VA Video Connect

> **NIH VA I21** · IOWA CITY VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Background: Beyond the distribution of video-enabled tablets to overcome access barriers to telemedicine,
Veterans need training to improve their digital skills. We hypothesize that by offering an in-person digital
literacy intervention among hospitalized Veterans, we can improve (1) digital skills and (2) use of
MyHealtheVet, [MHV] and VA Video Connect [VVC] to improve post-hospitalization access and care.
Significance: In the post-pandemic environment, telemedicine continues to expand. Patients, especially those
who are most vulnerable and require the most care, need effective training opportunities to improve digital
literacy as an important step to fully participate in virtual care. This digital training intervention is significant as it
is designed to address this challenge among a high-cost, high-risk population (hospitalized Veterans) who
require close follow-up care after discharge. Moreover, this feasibility study of a bedside digital literacy
intervention will identify implementation strategies that could be expanded into clinical workflows across a
variety of settings and populations to improve virtual access.
Innovation & Impact: While the Veterans Health Administration (VA) provides telephone-based orientation
services for VA-issued tablets in the outpatient setting, no program explores the opportunity to use
hospitalization to provide hands-on digital education. If effective, this pilot study will contribute to our
understanding of how to best engage Veterans in and provide digital literacy training to improve MHV and VVC
use. Findings from this effort will inform a larger pragmatic trial and offer insights that can be extended into
other clinical scenarios where digital training could be embedded.
Specific Aims: The aims of this study are: Aim 1: Engage 50 hospitalized Veterans to determine Veteran's
access to the internet, digital literacy needs, and preferences for using VA virtual care and 20 inpatient
providers to aid in optimizing an inpatient intervention to improve digital engagement; Aim 2: Conduct a three-
arm randomized pilot study of an inpatient digital literacy intervention among 75 hospitalized Veterans to
assess whether digital literacy and downstream use of MHV and VVC post-discharge improve across study
arm; and Aim 3: Examine acceptability, feasibility, and satisfaction of the digital literacy intervention.
Methodology: This study will first perform a Needs Assessment among 50 hospitalized Veterans and
interview 20 providers to optimize the intervention to avoid interfering with clinical processes. Second, we will
assess the effectiveness of a pilot intervention with (1) “high-intensity” personalized bedside training, (2) “low-
intensity” written education materials, or a (3) no digital training control arms. Third, we will obtain feedback
and assess barriers and facilitators among Veterans who received the high- and low-intensity inpatient digital
training using a semi-structured telephone interview 30-days post-...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10997621
- **Project number:** 1I21HX003875-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** IOWA CITY VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Amy MJ O'Shea
- **Activity code:** I21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-10-01 → 2026-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10997621

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10997621, A Pilot Digital Literacy Intervention to Engage Hospitalized Veterans with MyHealtheVet and VA Video Connect (1I21HX003875-01A1). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/10997621. Licensed CC0.

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