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

Shirzadi, Sh.; Arab Borzu, Z.; Taziki, M.; Safari, S.; Golghandashti, N.; Jahanfar, Sh.

doi:10.58209/hehp.14.1.83

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

Document Type : Descriptive & Survey

Authors

Sh. Shirzadi ¹

Z. Arab Borzu ²

M. Taziki ³

S. Safari ³

N. Golghandashti ³

Sh. Jahanfar ⁴

¹ .“Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center” and “Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Paramedicine, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran

² Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

³ Students Research Committee, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran

⁴ Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts School of Medicine, Boston, USA

10.58209/hehp.14.1.83

Abstract

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 2024 among 240 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 22.
Findings: The mean age of the respondents was 41.10±5.69 years. The mean of diabetes self-care activities was 47.1±8.5, and the mean e-health literacy was 21.3±6.6. Most diabetics had low e-health literacy, with 179 (74.6%) falling into this category. After adjusting for having a blood pressure measuring device at home and sleep status, e-health literacy (B=0.313, SE=0.092, p<0.05) 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.

Keywords

Health Literacy

Information Literacy

Self-Care

Hypertension

Patient

Subjects