Predictors of eHealth literacy levels among nursing students: A descriptive and correlational study

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the eHealth literacy levels of nursing students and to predict the influencing factors of eHealth literacy. It is essential for nursing students, as the future workforce of the nursing profession, to have proficient ehealth literacy skills. This study was conducted as a descriptive and correlational study. The sample consisted of 1059 nursing students at nursing departments of two state universities in Ankara, Turkey. The data were collected by a questionnaire and the eHealth Literacy Scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the data. The mean age of the students was 21.14±1.62 years and 86.2% were female. The mean eHealth literacy score of the students was 29.28±4.73. T Fourth year students had higher eHealth literacy scores than those in any other year of study (p<0.001). Students who use the Internet frequently and always, those who search for health-related information on the Internet, those who find accessing health information on the Internet important, and those who find the Internet useful when making health-decisions had significantly high eHealth literacy scores (p<0.05). The present study revealed that the majority of the nursing students displayed a moderate eHealth literacy level. Academic level, frequency of Internet use, and search for health-related information on the Internet impacted the eHealth literacy of the students. Therefore, eHealth literacy concepts should be integrated into nursing curricula to improve nursing students' skills in using information technology and to increase their health literacy level.