Negative Impact of Fear of COVID-19 on Health-Related Quality of Life Was Modified by Health Literacy, eHealth Literacy, and Digital Healthy Diet Literacy: A Multi-Hospital Survey

Minh H. Nguyen, Thu T. M. Pham, Kien T. Nguyen, Yen H. Nguyen, Tien V. Tran, Binh N. Do, Hung K. Dao, Huu C. Nguyen, Ngoc T. Do, Tung H. Ha, Dung T. Phan, Khue M. Pham, Linh V. Pham, Phuoc B. Nguyen, Hoai T. T. Nguyen, Thinh V. Do, Dung T. Ha, Hung Q. Nguyen, Huong T. M. Ngo, Manh V. Trinh, Thuy T. T. Mai, Nhan P. T. Nguyen, Anh L. Tra, Thao T. P. Nguyen, Kien T. Nguyen, Chyi-Huey Bai and Tuyen Van Duong
Additional contact information
Minh H. Nguyen: International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110-31, Taiwan
Thu T. M. Pham: Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 042-12, Vietnam
Kien T. Nguyen: President Office, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho 941-17, Vietnam
Yen H. Nguyen: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho 941-17, Vietnam
Tien V. Tran: Department of Infectious Diseases, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 121-08, Vietnam
Binh N. Do: Department of Infectious Diseases, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 121-08, Vietnam
Hung K. Dao: Director Office, Bac Ninh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, Bac Ninh 161-23, Vietnam
Huu C. Nguyen: Director Office, E Hospital, Hanoi 113-08, Vietnam
Ngoc T. Do: Nursing Office, E Hospital, Hanoi 113-08, Vietnam
Tung H. Ha: Director Office, General Hospital of Agricultural, Hanoi 125-16, Vietnam
Dung T. Phan: Faculty of Nursing, Hanoi University of Business and Technology, Hanoi 116-22, Vietnam
Khue M. Pham: Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 042-12, Vietnam
Linh V. Pham: Department of Pulmonary & Cardiovascular Diseases, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Hai Phong 042-12, Vietnam
Phuoc B. Nguyen: Director Office, Kien An Hospital, Hai Phong 046-09, Vietnam
Hoai T. T. Nguyen: Training and Direction of Healthcare Activity Center, Kien An Hospital, Hai Phong 046-09, Vietnam
Thinh V. Do: Director Office, Bai Chay Hospital, Quang Ninh 011-21, Vietnam
Dung T. Ha: Nursing Office, Bai Chay Hospital, Quang Ninh 011-21, Vietnam
Hung Q. Nguyen: Director Office, Quang Ninh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, Quang Ninh 011-24, Vietnam
Huong T. M. Ngo: Nursing Office, Quang Ninh Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Quang Ninh 011-24, Vietnam
Manh V. Trinh: Director Office, Quang Ninh General Hospital, Quang Ninh 011-08, Vietnam
Thuy T. T. Mai: Nursing Office, Quang Ninh General Hospital, Quang Ninh 011-08, Vietnam
Nhan P. T. Nguyen: General Planning Department, Da Nang Oncology Hospital, Da Nang 506-06, Vietnam
Anh L. Tra: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy, Da Nang 502-06, Vietnam
Thao T. P. Nguyen: Health Management Training Institute, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Thua Thien Hue 491-20, Vietnam
Kien T. Nguyen: Department of Health Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, Behavior and Health Education, Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi 119-10, Vietnam
Chyi-Huey Bai: International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110-31, Taiwan
Tuyen Van Duong: School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110-31, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been disseminating fear in the community, which has affected people’s quality of life, especially those with health problems. Health literacy (HL), eHealth literacy (eHEAL), and digital healthy diet literacy (DDL) may have potential impacts on containing the pandemic and its consequences. This study aimed to examine the association between the fear of COVID-19 scale (FCoV-19S) and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and to examine the effect modification by HL, eHEAL, and DDL on this association. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 11 hospitals across Vietnam from 7 April to 31 May 2020. Data were collected on 4348 outpatients, including demographic characteristics, HL, eHEAL, DDL, FCoV-19S, and HRQoL. Multiple linear regression and interaction models were used to explore associations. Results: Patients with higher FCoV-19S scores had lower HRQoL scores (unstandardized coefficient, B = ?0.78, p < 0.001). HL (B = 0.20, p < 0.001), eHEAL (B = 0.24, p < 0.001), and DDL (B = 0.20, p < 0.001) were positively associated with higher HRQoL scores. The negative impact of FCoV-19S on HRQoL was significantly attenuated by higher eHEAL score groups (from one standard deviation (SD) below the mean, B = ?0.93, p < 0.001; to the mean, B = ?0.85, p < 0.001; and one SD above the mean, B = ?0.77, p < 0.001); and by higher DDL score groups (from one SD below the mean, B = ?0.92, p < 0.001; to the mean, B = ?0.82, p < 0.001; and one SD above the mean, B = ?0.72, p < 0.001). Conclusions: eHealth literacy and digital healthy diet literacy could help to protect patients’ health-related quality of life from the negative impact of the fear of COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Keywords: fear of COVID-19; health-related quality of life; health literacy; eHealth literacy; digital healthy diet literacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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