IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i7p3766-d776733.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • Ha T. T. Tran

    (Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 042-12, Vietnam
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Minh H. Nguyen

    (International Ph.D. Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110-31, Taiwan
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Thu T. M. Pham

    (Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 042-12, Vietnam
    School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110-31, Taiwan)

  • Giang B. Kim

    (Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 115-20, Vietnam
    Center for Assessment and Quality Assurance, 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
    Pham Ngoc Thach Clinic, 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
    Training and Direction of Healthcare Activity Center, Thai Nguyen National Hospital, Thai Nguyen City 241-24, Vietnam)

  • Yen H. Nguyen

    (Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho 941-17, Vietnam
    Department of Pharmacy, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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 , 2022. "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," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:3766-:d:776733
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/7/3766/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/7/3766/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Oducado, Ryan Michael & Tuppal, Cyruz & Estoque, Homelo & Sadang, Jonaid & Superio, Daryl & Real, Don Vicente & Roa, Mary Nellie & Malaga, Xerxes & Quiros, Jejomar & Fajardo, Maria Teresa & Dela Rosa,, 2021. "Internet use, eHealth literacy and fear of COVID-19 among nursing students in the Philippines [Uso de Internet y la alfabetización en eSalud con temor al COVID-19 entre estudiantes de enfermería en," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue 15, pages 487-502.
    2. Tan T. Nguyen & Nga T. Le & Minh H. Nguyen & Linh V. Pham & Binh N. Do & Hoang C. Nguyen & Huu C. Nguyen & Tung H. Ha & Hung K. Dao & Phuoc B. Nguyen & Manh V. Trinh & Thinh V. Do & Hung Q. Nguyen & T, 2020. "Health Literacy and Preventive Behaviors Modify the Association between Pre-Existing Health Conditions and Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms: A Multi-Institutional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-12, November.
    3. 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 & Phuo, 2021. "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," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-15, May.
    4. Chiao Ling Huang & Shu-Ching Yang & Chia-Hsun Chiang, 2020. "The Associations between Individual Factors, eHealth Literacy, and Health Behaviors among College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-13, March.
    5. Hiep T. Nguyen & Binh N. Do & Khue M. Pham & Giang B. Kim & Hoa T.B. Dam & Trung T. Nguyen & Thao T.P. Nguyen & Yen H. Nguyen & Kristine Sørensen & Andrew Pleasant & Tuyen Van Duong, 2020. "Fear of COVID-19 Scale—Associations of Its Scores with Health Literacy and Health-Related Behaviors among Medical Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-14, June.
    6. Sunghee Kim & Jihyun Oh, 2021. "The Relationship between E-Health Literacy and Health-Promoting Behaviors in Nursing Students: A Multiple Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-12, May.
    7. Uday Patil & Uliana Kostareva & Molly Hadley & Jennifer A. Manganello & Orkan Okan & Kevin Dadaczynski & Philip M. Massey & Joy Agner & Tetine Sentell, 2021. "Health Literacy, Digital Health Literacy, and COVID-19 Pandemic Attitudes and Behaviors in U.S. College Students: Implications for Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Marien Alet Graham & Irma Eloff, 2022. "Comparing Mental Health, Wellbeing and Flourishing in Undergraduate Students Pre- and during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-17, June.
    2. Pilar Bas-Sarmiento & María José Lamas-Toranzo & Martina Fernández-Gutiérrez & Miriam Poza-Méndez, 2022. "Health Literacy, Misinformation, Self-Perceived Risk and Fear, and Preventive Measures Related to COVID-19 in Spanish University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-18, November.
    3. David García-García & María Julia Ajejas Bazán & Francisco Javier Pérez-Rivas, 2022. "Factors Influencing eHealth Literacy among Spanish Primary Healthcare Users: Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-13, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sheng-Chih Chen & Le Duc Huy & Cheng-Yu Lin & Chih-Feng Lai & Nhi Thi Hong Nguyen & Nhi Y. Hoang & Thao T. P. Nguyen & Loan T. Dang & Nguyen L. T. Truong & Tan N. Phan & Tuyen Van Duong, 2022. "Association of Digital Health Literacy with Future Anxiety as Mediated by Information Satisfaction and Fear of COVID-19: A Pathway Analysis among Taiwanese Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-16, November.
    2. 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 & Phuo, 2021. "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," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Yafeng Zou & Qi Wang & Min Deng & Yujie Wang, 2021. "Community Intervention System: COVID-19 Control in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-18, December.
    4. Hsiu-Ju Jen & Kuei-Ru Chou & Ching-Yi Chang, 2022. "Fostering Nursing Staff Competence in Personal Protective Equipment Education during COVID-19: A Mobile-Video Online Learning Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-10, July.
    5. Pilar Bas-Sarmiento & María José Lamas-Toranzo & Martina Fernández-Gutiérrez & Miriam Poza-Méndez, 2022. "Health Literacy, Misinformation, Self-Perceived Risk and Fear, and Preventive Measures Related to COVID-19 in Spanish University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-18, November.
    6. Maria Barcenilla-Guitard & Anna Espart, 2021. "Influence of Gender, Age and Field of Study on Hand Hygiene in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in the COVID-19 Pandemic Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-16, December.
    7. Hanan Alfawaz & Nasiruddin Khan & Alwateen Almarshad & Kaiser Wani & Muneerah A. Aljumah & Malak Nawaz Khan Khattak & Nasser M. Al-Daghri, 2020. "The Prevalence and Awareness Concerning Dietary Supplement Use among Saudi Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-14, May.
    8. Veronika Anselmann & Simone Halder & Sophie Sauer, 2024. "Nursing Students’ Health Literacy and Strategies to Foster Patients’ Health Literacy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-9, August.
    9. Rafaela Rosário & Inês Fronteira & Maria R. O. Martins & Cláudia Augusto & Maria José Silva & Melanie Messer & Silvana Martins & Ana Duarte & Neida Ramos & Katharina Rathmann & Orkan Okan & Kevin Dada, 2022. "Infodemic Preparedness and COVID-19: Searching about Public Health and Social Measures Is Associated with Digital Health Literacy in University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-9, September.
    10. Kati Hiltrop & Nina Hiebel & Franziska Geiser & Milena Kriegsmann-Rabe & Nikoloz Gambashidze & Eva Morawa & Yesim Erim & Kerstin Weidner & Christian Albus & Nicole Ernstmann, 2021. "Measuring COVID-19 Related Health Literacy in Healthcare Professionals—Psychometric Evaluation of the HL-COV-HP Instrument," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-10, November.
    11. Al Asyary & Meita Veruswati & Rony Darmawansyah Alnur & La Ode Ahmad Saktiansyah & La Ode Hasnuddin S. Sagala & Syawal Kamiluddin Saptaputra & Eka Oktavia & Maria Holly Herawati & Ririn Arminsih Wulan, 2023. "Determinants of COVID-19 Knowledge, Perception and Attitudes in Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-11, February.
    12. Franca Spatafora & Paula M. Matos Fialho & Heide Busse & Stefanie M. Helmer & Hajo Zeeb & Christiane Stock & Claus Wendt & Claudia R. Pischke, 2022. "Fear of Infection and Depressive Symptoms among German University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-15, January.
    13. Stephen X. Zhang & Hao Huang & Jizhen Li & Mayra Antonelli-Ponti & Scheila Farias de Paiva & José Aparecido da Silva, 2021. "Predictors of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Brazil during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-10, June.
    14. Chiara Lorini & Veronica Velasco & Guglielmo Bonaccorsi & Kevin Dadaczynski & Orkan Okan & Patrizio Zanobini & Luca P. Vecchio, 2022. "Validation of the COVID-19 Digital Health Literacy Instrument in the Italian Language: A Cross-Sectional Study of Italian University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-17, May.
    15. Anjali Ramaswamy & Naveen R. Gowda & H. Vikas & Meghana Prabhu & Jai Bhagwan Sharma & Khyati Vakharia & Atul Kumar & M. V. Akhila & Shilpa Gatta & Madhuri Sareddy & K. P. Sowmya & T. K. Divya & Devash, 2024. "Smart-Colpo: What if we had a national program for cervical cancer led by industry players and start-ups?," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 51(2), pages 251-259, June.
    16. Marco Tofani & Anna Berardi & Maurizio Marceca & Donatella Valente & Alfonso Mazzaccara & Antonella Polimeni & Giovanni Galeoto, 2021. "Fighting COVID-19 Contagion among University Students of Healthcare Professions: An Italian Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-9, December.
    17. Veljko Kolak & Maja Pavlovic & Ema Aleksic & Vladimir Biocanin & Milica Gajic & Ana Nikitovic & Marija Lalovic & Irena Melih & Dragana Pesic, 2022. "Probable Bruxism and Psychological Issues among Dental Students in Serbia during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.
    18. Orkan Okan & Torsten Michael Bollweg & Eva-Maria Berens & Klaus Hurrelmann & Ullrich Bauer & Doris Schaeffer, 2020. "Coronavirus-Related Health Literacy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Adults during the COVID-19 Infodemic in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-20, July.
    19. Alessandra Patrono & Stefano Renzetti & Angela Manco & Paola Brunelli & Stefanny M. Moncada & Mark J. Macgowan & Donatella Placidi & Stefano Calza & Giuseppa Cagna & Matteo Rota & Maurizio Memo & Maur, 2022. "COVID-19 Aftermath: Exploring the Mental Health Emergency among Students at a Northern Italian University," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-16, July.
    20. Heeran Chun & Eun-Ja Park & Seul Ki Choi & Hyeran Yoon & Orkan Okan & Kevin Dadaczynski, 2022. "Validating the Digital Health Literacy Instrument in Relation to COVID-19 Information (COVID-DHL-K) among South Korean Undergraduates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-9, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:3766-:d:776733. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.