E-Health Literacy and Its Relationship with Self-Care Behaviors among Iranian Hypertensive Patients

Aims: E-health literacy is correlated with health-related behaviors, suggesting it can act as a mediator in the process by which health-related information leads to changes in health-related behaviors. This study aimed to investigate e-health literacy and examine the relationship between e-health literacy and self-care behaviors in hypertensive patients.Instrument & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in ۲۰۲۴ among ۲۴۰ hypertensive patients covered by the healthcare centers of Neyshabur City, Iran. Participants were selected using a stratified random sampling method. Data were gathered using a demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Hypertension Self-Care Profile, and the Electronic Health Literacy Scale. The collected data were analyzed using multiple linear regression with SPSS ۲۲. Findings: The mean age of the respondents was ۴۱.۱۰±۵.۶۹ years. The mean of diabetes self-care activities was ۴۷.۱±۸.۵, and the mean e-health literacy was ۲۱.۳±۶.۶. Most diabetics had low e-health literacy, with ۱۷۹ (۷۴.۶%) falling into this category. After adjusting for having a blood pressure measuring device at home and sleep status, e-health literacy (B=۰.۳۱۳, SE=۰.۰۹۲, p<۰.۰۵) was the statistically significant independent factor associated with self-care activities of hypertensive patients.Conclusion: Implementing educational programs focused on promoting e-health literacy increases the self-care activities of hypertensive patients, thereby enhancing the patient’s overall quality of life.

کلیدواژه ها:

Health Literacy ، Information Literacy ، Self-care ، Hypertension ، Patient