Mind the gap: an evidence gap analysis of digital literacy within public health systems in the European Union using two different frameworks.

This evidence gap analysis aimed to map the existing evidence and identify gaps in the literature on digital literacy among the public health workforce in the European Union. An evidence framework integrating the WHO's Essential Public Health Functions and the European Commission's DigiComp Framework 3.0 was applied to analyse literature identified via a structured search strategy. Twelve studies published between 2020 and 2025 were included. The findings reveal a fragmented and uneven evidence base. Research is heavily concentrated in the domain of public health workforce development, particularly in relation to communication and collaboration competencies, while several public health functions and digital competence areas remain underrepresented or unaddressed. Methodologically, the field is limited, with a clear lack of quantitative studies. Overall, the analysis highlights substantial gaps in both the conceptualisation and empirical investigation of digital literacy in public health. These findings underscore the need for more comprehensive, methodologically diverse research to support evidence-based workforce development and inform digital transformation strategies in European public health systems.