Predictors of eHealth Literacy and Its Associations with Preventive Behaviors, Fear of COVID-19, Anxiety, and Depression among Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Ha T. T. Tran, Minh H. Nguyen, Thu T. M. Pham, Giang B. Kim, Hiep T. Nguyen, Ngoc-Minh Nguyen, Hoa T. B. Dam, Thai H. Duong, Yen H. Nguyen, Thao T. Do, Thao T. P. Nguyen, Thuy T. Le, Hien T. T. Do, Tham T. Nguyen, Khue M. Pham and Tuyen Van Duong
Additional contact information
Ha T. T. Tran: Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 042-12, Vietnam
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
Giang B. Kim: Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 115-20, Vietnam
Hiep T. Nguyen: Faculty of Public Health, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh 725-10, Vietnam
Ngoc-Minh Nguyen: Faculty of Public Health, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh 725-10, Vietnam
Hoa T. B. Dam: Department of Psychiatry, Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Nguyen 241-17, Vietnam
Thai H. Duong: Department of Internal Medicine, Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Nguyen City 241-17, Vietnam
Yen H. Nguyen: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho 941-17, Vietnam
Thao T. Do: Department of Oral Pathology and Periodontology, Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho 941-17, Vietnam
Thao T. P. Nguyen: Health Personnel Training Institute, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thua Thien Hue 491-20, Vietnam
Thuy T. Le: Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy, Da Nang 502-06, Vietnam
Hien T. T. Do: Faculty of Nursing, Hai Duong Medical Technical University, Hai Duong 031-17, Vietnam
Tham T. Nguyen: Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 042-12, Vietnam
Khue M. Pham: Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 042-12, Vietnam
Tuyen Van Duong: School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110-31, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: Background: The infodemic has been co-existing with the COVID-19 pandemic with an influx of misinformation and conspiracy theories. These affect people’s psychological health and adherence to preventive measures. eHealth literacy (eHEALS) may help with alleviating the negative effects of the infodemic. As nursing students are future healthcare professionals, having adequate eHEALS skills is critically important in their clinical practice, safety, and health. This study aimed to (1) explore the eHEALS level and its associated factors, and (2) examine the associations of eHEALS with preventive behaviors, fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S), anxiety, and depression among nursing students. Methods: We surveyed 1851 nursing students from 7 April to 31 May 2020 from eight universities across Vietnam. Data were collected, including demographic characteristics, eHEALS, adherence to preventive behaviors (handwashing, mask-wearing, physical distancing), FCV-19S, anxiety, and depression. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed appropriately to examine associations. Results: The mean score of eHEALS was 31.4 ± 4.4. The eHEALS score was significantly higher in males (unstandardized regression coefficient, B, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 0.15 to 1.73; p = 0.019), and students with a better ability to pay for medication (B, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.39 to 1.19; p < 0.001), as compared to their counterparts. Nursing students with a higher eHEALS score had a higher likelihood of adhering to hand-washing (odds ratio, OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.22; p < 0.001), mask-wearing (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.19; p < 0.001), keeping a safe physical distance (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.25; p < 0.001), and had a lower anxiety likelihood (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92 to 0.99; p = 0.011). Conclusions: Nursing students who were men and with better ability to pay for medication had higher eHEALS scores. Those with higher eHEALS scores had better adherence to preventive measures, and better psychological health. The development of strategies to improve eHEALS of nursing students may contribute to COVID-19 containment and improve their psychological health.

Keywords: health literacy; preventive behaviors; fear; COVID-19; anxiety; depression; nursing students; handwashing; mask-wearing; physical distancing; Vietnam (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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